When she tried to testify to this [that her statement was false] at Peltier’s trial, the judge deemed her too mentally incompetent to do so.
//
Wait, what? So when her statement is being used to convict him, her mental competency is A-okay, but when she tries to testify as to his innocence suddenly she's incompetent? EXCUSE ME? Are you fucking kidding me right now?
This aspect alone makes me feel very stabby, and it doesn't help hearing that later this same woman was later (probably coerced into being) used to give an almost identical "testimony" against someone else.
Just yesterday I heard "We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee" by Redbone for the first time. It was banned from corporate radio because its subject matter (the massacre) was too controversial. This was 2 years before the incident in 1975.
Thank you for this. The only reason he's still in prison is the FBI. Fucking COINTELPRO bastards. Time to dig out my old vinyl of Custer Died For Your Sins by Floyd Westerman and smoke one for Leonard. Free this man!
Thank you for this. The only reason he's still in prison is the FBI. Fucking COINTELPRO bastards. Time to dig out my old vinyl of Custer Died For Your Sins by Floyd Westerman and smoke one for Leonard. Free this man!
Thank you for this story. Not many know about him. AIM was huge here in AZ growing up and in grad/med school had friends and advisors from NM & SD talk about him. Esp at gatherings and dance ceremonies (I helped make the fry bread)
also recall at this time there was a prohibition of practice of traditional ceremonies and residential schools were still running (and used as a threat if you didn't 'comply).
Oh and the feds going undercover worked. They used tribal funding and tensions and played one rez against another. In 1st grade rez kids chased another girl cuz she belonged to another tribe and the anger and tension the parents felt transferred to their kids.(this was also the same year I got called a wetback and other slurs by gringo kids.). Anyhoo, US government still forking with indigenous peoples in 2024, what's changed since 1492?
My daughter was in a play about the "Indian Schools" when she was in HS (here in NoCal) about five or so years ago, and was just appalled that AZ *still* has "Indian School Road."
I'm moving back in August after being away for 23 years, and I have mixed feelings about it. *sigh*
More people know about residential schools in Canada, but less know that it was Canuckistan that gave the US, AND Australia AND THE NAZIS the idea to do the same in their countries.
More likely because he doesn't want to give the low information right wingers (including law enforcement) more ammunition (even D "centrists" mostly think Peltier's imprisonment is an embarrassment).
There is written law and there is unwritten law. Written law says that if somebody kills an FBI agent, someone in particular has to be convicted of that specific homicide by a jury of his peers, beyond a reasonable doubt. Unwritten law says that if somebody kills an FBI agent, somebody goes to prison and stays there until "released to death" - maybe someone in particular, maybe not.. It is all too common for unwritten law to prevail over written law.
... beyond the fact that it would be merely just, I expect freeing him would also actually be smart politics under the circumstances. Yes the out and out lying fascists would presumably opportunistically kick up a fuss about coddling cop killers... But the people receptive to that in these circumstances are probably pretty far gone anyway. And it does show a restless left and a lot of people that give a fuck about doing the right thing that whoever gets it done gives a shit about such unequal justice... The lying talking heads on Faux Der Stürmer will probably rage and bullshit sure.
The American justice system, just like its economy, demands blood sacrifices and slavery. A person's innocence or whether their actions were right and just seldom matter.
There's a huge difference between court results and Right and Wrong.
We put systems and institutions above their actual purpose. The worst crime one can commit is still lese majeste; in our case not insulting the King, but being in the way of one of our institutions.
Whether it was neglect, abnegation, or ignorance, there is no excuse for a democratic president to have left him incarcerated. I understand that there are many many problems in our country that need attention. But the apparatus of the government is huge, full of people. Somebody should’ve had or made the time to deal with this problem. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking that it hasn’t been dealt with.
FREE. LEONARD. PELTIER.
I know I’m late to the party here but I think I’ve signed like 15 petitions to free Peltier in my lifetime. At least.
//
When she tried to testify to this [that her statement was false] at Peltier’s trial, the judge deemed her too mentally incompetent to do so.
//
Wait, what? So when her statement is being used to convict him, her mental competency is A-okay, but when she tries to testify as to his innocence suddenly she's incompetent? EXCUSE ME? Are you fucking kidding me right now?
This aspect alone makes me feel very stabby, and it doesn't help hearing that later this same woman was later (probably coerced into being) used to give an almost identical "testimony" against someone else.
Just yesterday I heard "We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee" by Redbone for the first time. It was banned from corporate radio because its subject matter (the massacre) was too controversial. This was 2 years before the incident in 1975.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCmFF59L62o
Ta, Robyn. I lost count of all the petitions I signed on Peltier's behalf. Mitakuye oyasin.
Thank you for this. The only reason he's still in prison is the FBI. Fucking COINTELPRO bastards. Time to dig out my old vinyl of Custer Died For Your Sins by Floyd Westerman and smoke one for Leonard. Free this man!
Thank you for this. The only reason he's still in prison is the FBI. Fucking COINTELPRO bastards. Time to dig out my old vinyl of Custer Died For Your Sins by Floyd Westerman and smoke one for Leonard. Free this man!
Thank you for this story. Not many know about him. AIM was huge here in AZ growing up and in grad/med school had friends and advisors from NM & SD talk about him. Esp at gatherings and dance ceremonies (I helped make the fry bread)
also recall at this time there was a prohibition of practice of traditional ceremonies and residential schools were still running (and used as a threat if you didn't 'comply).
Oh and the feds going undercover worked. They used tribal funding and tensions and played one rez against another. In 1st grade rez kids chased another girl cuz she belonged to another tribe and the anger and tension the parents felt transferred to their kids.(this was also the same year I got called a wetback and other slurs by gringo kids.). Anyhoo, US government still forking with indigenous peoples in 2024, what's changed since 1492?
"Indian School Road."
My daughter was in a play about the "Indian Schools" when she was in HS (here in NoCal) about five or so years ago, and was just appalled that AZ *still* has "Indian School Road."
I'm moving back in August after being away for 23 years, and I have mixed feelings about it. *sigh*
My bet is now Indigenous people would like it to remain so settler population there wears the legacy like a bad stink.
I hope that is the case. I'm so surprised when I run across people who have no fucking clue any of that even happened. It's just mind-boggling.
More people know about residential schools in Canada, but less know that it was Canuckistan that gave the US, AND Australia AND THE NAZIS the idea to do the same in their countries.
But he won’t be released. Because Biden doesn’t want to look like a “commie” to the Republicans and the centrist majority that dominates his party.
Maybe Biden could grant him clemency after the election when he won’t have to worry about being a “commie.”
More likely because he doesn't want to give the low information right wingers (including law enforcement) more ammunition (even D "centrists" mostly think Peltier's imprisonment is an embarrassment).
I saw the headline from Faux News about Peltier. I won't repeat it here.
There is written law and there is unwritten law. Written law says that if somebody kills an FBI agent, someone in particular has to be convicted of that specific homicide by a jury of his peers, beyond a reasonable doubt. Unwritten law says that if somebody kills an FBI agent, somebody goes to prison and stays there until "released to death" - maybe someone in particular, maybe not.. It is all too common for unwritten law to prevail over written law.
Robbie Robertson—Sacrifice (w/ and re Peltier)
https://youtu.be/ZDFAw_wj_Go
... beyond the fact that it would be merely just, I expect freeing him would also actually be smart politics under the circumstances. Yes the out and out lying fascists would presumably opportunistically kick up a fuss about coddling cop killers... But the people receptive to that in these circumstances are probably pretty far gone anyway. And it does show a restless left and a lot of people that give a fuck about doing the right thing that whoever gets it done gives a shit about such unequal justice... The lying talking heads on Faux Der Stürmer will probably rage and bullshit sure.
And it’s long long long overdue now.
"We should be humiliated, as a nation, that we have allowed this injustice to go on for so long."
True, but unfortunately the line for things about which this nation should be humiliated is pretty fucking long at this point.
The American justice system, just like its economy, demands blood sacrifices and slavery. A person's innocence or whether their actions were right and just seldom matter.
Very accurate correction. I agree.
There's a huge difference between court results and Right and Wrong.
We put systems and institutions above their actual purpose. The worst crime one can commit is still lese majeste; in our case not insulting the King, but being in the way of one of our institutions.
Obama should have pardoned him.
Biden should pardon him.
He’s going to die in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Carter should have pardoned him.
Clinton should have pardoned him.
Whether it was neglect, abnegation, or ignorance, there is no excuse for a democratic president to have left him incarcerated. I understand that there are many many problems in our country that need attention. But the apparatus of the government is huge, full of people. Somebody should’ve had or made the time to deal with this problem. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking that it hasn’t been dealt with.
Biden should've fired Wray years ago.