By Cam Walker
Native American activist Leonard Peltier has been in jail since 1976 for the murder of two FBI agents. Last year, he stated: "I have served over 18 years in prison ... The prosecutors have now admitted that they have no idea who killed the agents. There is no credible evidence against me. The Court of Appeals has ruled that during my trial the judge erred in his rulings and that it appears that witnesses were coerced, evidence was fabricated, and exculpatory evidence was withheld. Yet, in 1993, I remain in jail."
In February, 400 people met on Alcatraz island off San Francisco to start the "Walk for Justice". The walk, organised by co-founders of the American Indian Movement Dennis Banks and Mary Jane Wilson, is a five-month, 5800 kilometre effort to draw attention to Peltier's case. It has crossed 22 mountains, continued through three major snow storms and is now in Ohio.
In early May, 74 people from the walk held a vigil and protest outside Leavenworth penitentiary, where Peltier is incarcerated.
The walkers have been hosted by Native American communities along the way. There have been many "link walks" from places such as Florida, Ohio, Kentucky and Minnesota. The walkers range in age from 13 to 62, and are from a number of Native American and Canadian communities, as well as Australia, Germany and Japan.
As they go, they are collecting signatures calling on President Clinton to grant clemency for Peltier. He is supported internationally by people such as Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Nelson Mandela, the archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Reverend Jesse Jackson. Worldwide, 20 million signatures have been collected over the years calling for his freedom.
The walk is asking people to sign petitions or write letters to Clinton, asking for presidential clemency. A letter can be short: simply say that you are deeply concerned about Leonard's wrongful imprisonment. You could mention the proven FBI misconduct in Peltier's trial. Send letters to President Clinton, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC, 20500 USA.
The Native American Support Group in Melbourne has copies of the petition. If you're able to get them signed, they will need to be with the Walk for Justice office in the USA by early July. The Walk also needs financial support, and donations can be made to the Walk for Justice National Office, PO Box 315, Newport, Kentucky, 41071, USA.
For more information and copies of the petitions, contact the Native American Support Group, Box 222, Fitzroy 3065. Phone Canopy (03) 354 7972 or Cam (03) 419 8700.