Subj: Italian Americans support Leonard Peltier on "Columbus Day" Date: 10/12/00 9:10:39 PM Central Daylight Time From: lpdc@idir.net (LPDC) To: lpdc@mail-list.com (If you are of Italian heritage and would like to sign this letter, there is still time to do so. It won't be mailed for another week) Appeal by Italian Americans to President Clinton for Executive Clemency for Leonard Peltier We are writing to you as Italian Americans, on the occasion of Columbus Day, to ask that you grant executive clemency to Native American activist Leonard Peltier. Columbus Day is a holiday which raises the complex question of how indigenous people have been treated in this country since 1492. As Italian Americans, we are proud of the contribution that immigrants from Italy and their descendants have made to this country from its very inception. But our pride cannot blind us to the historical wrongs committed in the establishment of our adopted country--and most especially, those wrongs which are celebrated as virtues using the name of a Genovese navigator, Christopher Columbus. It is impossible for the United States to undo the enormous historical injustices done to the people of the First Nations. But there are actions which can be taken to make amends and to mitigate the suffering today which is the product of centuries of injustice. It is for this reason, Mr. President, that we ask you to grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier before the end of your term of office. Mr. Peltier, an Anishinabe-Lakota activist and leader of the American Indian Movement, was convicted of first degree murder after a 1975 shoot-out on the Pine Ridge reservation between local residents/AIM supporters and FBI agents. Two other men who went to trial were found not guilty on grounds of self-defense. But the judge in Mr. Peltier's case refused to consider evidence of self-defense and information from the acquittals of the two co-defendants. On appeal, the 8th Circuit Court ruled that the FBI had improperly withheld evidence, and that Mr. Peltier might have been acquitted had this evidence been available. Yet they denied the appeal on a technicality. Subsequently, we understand, the judge who wrote the decision has written in support of executive clemency. Now 56 years of age and plagued by serious health problems, Mr. Peltier has spent the last 24 years of his life in prison. Simple justice demands Leonard Peltier's immediate and unconditional release from federal prison. Simple justice impels us as Italian Americans from many walks of life to make this request, and to make it on an occasion which has been used to pit the interests of our community against those of the first inhabitants of this land. Mr. President, we are heartened by the recent words of Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, acknowledging the Bureau of Indian Affairs' legacy of racism and inhumanity, and "the moral responsibility of putting things right." We fervently hope that, in this spirit, you will grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier as part of the historic legacy of your presidency. To add your name to this appeal, please: e-mail jucelli@igc.org; or call Juliet Ucelli at (212) 677-0762; or write Juliet Ucelli, 445 E. 14 St., Apt. 6E, NY, NY 10009. Please give your name,address, e-mail address, and an organizational or professional affiliation or position for identification purposes only. Please get signatures in by October 21. Signed by* (list in formation): John Allocca, Boston, MA Tom Ammiano, President of Board of Supervisors, San Francisco, CA Dr. Thomas Angotti, Pratt Institute Stephanie Belvedere, Jackson, NJ Marcella Bencivenni, City University of NY Graduate Center Anthony Bianco, Manhasset, NY Jean Caiani, Oakland, CA John Calderone, Bronx, NY Eric Canepa, New York City Tito Canepa, New York City Carmelina Cartei, Hunter College, NYC Gina Chiala, Lawrence, KA Dr. Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum, Berkeley, CA Maria Curreri, New York City Rose Marie Davoli-Arons, C.S.W., New York City George De Stefano, Long Island City, NY Tara di Prima Marlowe, New York City Prof. Jackie DiSalvo, CUNY Graduate Center Joseph Faro, Queens, NY Joan Galatioto Callender, Brooklyn, NY Prof. Theresa Gentile Horvath, Mercy College, NY Tony Giametta, ACORN, East Rockaway, NY Jennifer Guglielmo, Minneapolis, MN Marco Vesuvio Guglielmo, Los Angeles, CA Thomas Guglielmo, Michigan Theresa Laino, Brooklyn, NY Prof. Antonio Lauria-Perricelli, New York University Tommi Avicolli Mecca, Castro Tenants Union, San Francisco, CA Zoe C. Meleo-Erwin, Philadeslphia, PA Giuliana Milanese, San Francisco, CA Prof. Rosemarie Pace, Bronx, NY Ralph Palladino, New York City James J. Periconi, Esq., New York City Gene Prisco, Staten Island, NY Loretta Prisco, Staten Island, NY John J. Privitera, Esq., Albany, NY Carole Raimondi, Berkeley CA Vittoria Repetto, New York City Albert Rousso, Brooklyn, New York Prof. Salvatore Salerno, Macalester College Cynthia R. Savo, New Haven, CT Juliet Ucelli, C.S.W., New York City Marla Ucelli, Hoboken, NJ Prof. Josephine Unti Fowler, University of Minnesota Marilyn Vasta, C.S.W., New York City Prof. Rudolph J. Vecoli, University of Minnesota Peter Vellon, CUNY Graduate Center Angelo Verga, Bronx, NY Prof. Robert Viscusi, Brooklyn College *Any affiliations listed are for identification purposes only Call the White House Comments Line Today Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111 Be in New York City December 10th Peltier March For Freedom! Leonard Peltier Defense Committee PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044 785-842-5774 www.freepeltier.org May your Waters Run Gentle, With Love Care And Concern, Alece, Little Hawk,