Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 18:07:32
From: Marpessa Kupendua Subject: !*Urgent Action Alert for Standing Deer!

!! URGENT ACTION ALERT FOR STANDING DEER!!

From: Bonnie Kerness, American Friends Service Committee, who stated, "This is the worst time for prisoners in my 20 years as a prison activist."

STANDING DEER, 640289 (Ellis 1, Huntsville, TX 77343) has been falsely accused of writing "When I Get Out," which was a poem that appeared in "Hauling Up The Morning." The poem was written by James Red Dog. Standing Deer sent this poem to a local newspaper trying to illustrate how prison impacts on people. As a result, he has received charges as a terrorist and is being investigated by the FBI. Standing Deer is in the hole and is being denied his medication. Please fax, call and send letters demanding that the harrassment of this elder man be stopped and that he be given his medicine:

Warden Figuroa
Estelle Unit
Huntsville, Texas 77340
Phone: 409-291-4200
Fax: 409-295-5407

Alan Pulansky
Director, Texas Dept. Of Criminal Justice
Fax: 210-349-5468

Please send copies of letters to:
Anna Standing Deer, P.O. Box 690
, Mohegan Lake, NY 10547

IT WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MOMENTS FOR YOU TO GIVE YOUR SUPPORT, AND IT WILL MEAN A GREAT DEAL FOR THESE GOONS TO KNOW THAT STANDING DEER HAS SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS!

"Any movement that fails to support it's political internees is a sham movement!" -
Ojore N. Lutalo

In 1978, Standing Deer, a 65-year-old Oneida/Choctaw, exposed a government plot to assassinate American Indian Movement (AIM) leader Leonard Peltier in Marion prison. This bizarre case has been documented in several books, including "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" by Peter Matthiessen. In 1984, Standing Deer, Leonard Peltier, and Albert Garza fasted for 42 days to draw worldwide attention to the deplorable conditions at USP Marion, the maximum security federal prison. In retaliation, the government held these three men in total solitary isolation for 15 months with nothing in their cages except a steel bunk and a toilet. Standing Deer continues to fight for human dignity despite failing health and reprisals from his captors.

In his Marion Death Fast Statement, Standing Deer wrote, in part:

"All of the above things I could probably learn to live with because I realize that Marion is america's #1 gulag for political prisoners, and I know that my brothers, friends, comrades in here are suffering the same indiginities. But there is one outrage that I can no longer tolerate. I will no longer allow the united states to continue to deny me the right to practice my religion. For 491 years the religion of my people has been trampled on and disrespected by the sea pirates and many of their descendants who invaded my land so long ago. For those of us who today wish to follow the religion and teachings of our grandfathers, the road is rocky and the struggle is hard, even under conditions in the so- called 'free world.' But for American Indians in Marion, we have been cast into a spiritual wastebasket where every aspect of our religion is denied.
Leonard and me enter into this fast not out of despair or depression but with a joyful commitment of total love and dedication to our people."

PLEASE CALL, FAX OR WRITE TODAY! HANDS OFF STANDING DEER!

Build and Support Jericho '98 March on the White House!
Demand Amnesty for Political Prisoners/POW's!
Jericho '98 March

UPDATE: WORKER'S WORLD