Leonard Peltier's health declined seriously in the late spring and early summer, due to pain and inflammation in his jaw, the result of old injuries seriously complicated by medical mistreatment at the Springfield Federal Medical Center for Prisoners in 1996. Peltier can no longer chew his food and is in continuous pain.

He has made several requests to see an outside physician, and Dr. Keller, a renowned maxillo-facial surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has written prison officials, offering to treat Peltier, but they have denied all requests. The Native American political prisoner refuses to be transferred to Springfield and the facility there has already stated that they do not have the staff and/or equipment to treat him. Therefore, it is his legal right to choose an outside physician for treatment.

Currently legal actions are being taken in order to get Leonard the care that he needs. Supporters are asked to continue writing letters to the Bureau of Prisons, and to the warden at Leavenworth requesting that Dr. Keller and the Mayo clinic treat Peltier. Make it clear that a transfer to Springfield Medical Facility would be totally out of the question. Mention Leonard's health whenever writing government officials.

Peltier was convicted of the 1975 shooting deaths of two FBI agents during a firefight at a settlement of traditional tribal leaders near Oglala, on the Pine Ridge, South Dakota Indian Reservation, a crime he did not commit. The day of the gunfight, the corrupt Pine Ridge tribal president was secretly signing away reservation mineral rights to uranium and coal interests.

Direct Action Update

Prosecuting an earlier civil disobedience action at the Justice Department, the government failed to prove its case and Scott Mathern-Jacobson and Jeremy Scahill were found not guilty of incommoding in Washington, D.C. Superior court, on May 29. They were arrested at a sit-in last November, calling for action on Peltier's clemency appeal.

For more information, contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, POB 583, Lawrence, KS 66044 (785)842-5774, email: lpdc@idir.net

Send letters regarding Peltier's medical treatment to Ms. Kathleen Hawk, Director, Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, Washington, DC 20534, Fax: (202)514-6878, and Warden Booker, Leavenworth Federal Prison, PO Box 1000, Leavenworth, KS 66048, (913)682-8700. Letters of support to Leonard Peltier should be sent to his address in Inside & Out.

FUTURE

The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (LPDC) has issued a call for a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience, to pressure the Clinton administration to keep its promise (to consider Peltier's clemency petition) and free the political prisoner. Peltier suggested that this step be taken now, and the Defense Committee is asking supporters and groups to begin preparing for local nonviolent direct action during the holiday season on December 19, 1998, and then again on February 6, 1999, the anniversary of his arrest. The Committee notes "It is important for each group to organize legal support, local media contacts and an effective plan of civil disobedience."

Bundles of large campaign posters ("Free Leonard Peltier and All Political Prisoners"), a sample letter to President Clinton, and more information are available from the LPDC, POB 583, Lawrence, KS 66044 (785)842-5774, email: lpdc@idir.net