BY REBECCA GETTLEMAN
DES MOINES, Iowa - After receiving thousands of protest
letters, U.S. prison authorities abandoned plans to
transfer Native American leader Leonard Peltier to a
federal penitentiary in Atlanta. The Leonard Peltier
Defense Committee sent a fax to supporters December 23
thanking those who sent letters and urging continued
backing for the framed-up activist's effort to win parole.
Shortly after attending a parole hearing on December 11, Peltier was abruptly transferred from the Leavenworth, Kansas, penitentiary to Oklahoma City. Peltier is serving two life sentences on frame-up charges of murdering two FBI agents. The move came as a surprise to Peltier and his supporters. After the transfer, federal authorities told Peltier he was being moved to the Atlanta prison.
Peltier's supporters were concerned both about the reputation of the prison in Atlanta, which they described as "a dangerous institution well known for outbreaks of violence," and about Peltier being moved so far from his defense committee. The defense committee called for letters to be sent to the warden in Atlanta letting him know he would be held accountable for Peltier's safety.
Prison authorities subsequently decided to transfer the activist to a medical facility in Springfield, Missouri, where he will be able to receive long-needed medical care.
In a statement faxed to supporters around the world, the Peltier defense committee wrote, "We are very pleased with Leonard Peltier's current situation."
The fax went on to state, "We must stress the importance of sending letters of support to the U.S. Parole Commission. This is the best chance Leonard has had in a long time!"
Letters urging parole for Peltier can be sent to the U.S. Parole Commission at 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; Fax (301) 492-6694.
To write or send gifts showing support, Peltier's address in prison is:
Leonard Peltier, #89637-132
Springfield Medical Facility
1900 W. Sunshine
P.O. Box 4000
Springfield, MO 65808
Items that can be sent include soft cover books, photographs (no Polaroid's), and postal money orders (for phone calls, stamps, paper, etc.). For more information contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Box 583, Lawrence, KS 66044. Tel: (913) 842-5774.