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Solidarity with Leonard Peltier
~ Roibeard McElroy
I first became aware of the case of Leonard Peltier around 1999. It was brought to my attention by a friend with whom I've a common interest: the fascination and esteem we both share for Native Americans and their culture in general. When I got reading about the history of the case, the issue and the character of Leonard, I became engrossed. I was immediately and instantly struck, as if a dart shooting at the speed of light had entered me from an unknown source and quarter, a dart of self-realization, that it was comparable to several cases of Irish people being framed and wrongly imprisoned in the 1970's in Britain - it was a "Miscarriage of Justice" of monumental proportions; moreover, was yet another example of the injustice still being perpetrated against the Native Americans - my brothers - something Irish people have known and been acquainted with, like a hand fitting a glove, through the ages. Thus I was moved and impelled to write a poem which I entitled "The Dakota Indian's Incantation".
The man hunt and his subsequent arrest and 'show trial,' that followed the shoot out was of course, premised on very spurious grounds, just like the aforementioned Irish cases of 'The Birmingham Six,' 'The Guildford Four,' 'The Maguire Seven,' except that they were all ultimately released and exonerated and Leonard is still captive like a caged bird! But also the background and lead up to that, with the whole Pine Ridge Reservation occupation and protest was so inspiring, and still is, just like the Occupation of Alcatraz in 1969. (Indeed, if you permit me to digress, I've often wondered, if the rock off Ireland called Rockall (which is Irish but was pilfered let's say) were occupied in the same way, what effect and inspiration, it could convey!?
When I consider the fine attributes of Leonard Peltier, I am inexorably moved, as if a great wave is coming towards me but I cannot move to avoid it; I am compelled by his plight like an advocate that can never be silenced or quieted; I will roar and shout to the mountain tops without ceasing. If there is such a thing, as being a prey to the predator of good causes, and the benevolent cause of freeing Leonard, then I am a willing and voluntary prey to that predator!
When I ponder - like a philosopher who never stops thinking or contemplating the great question and glorious dawn of freedom - the poetry that he's written, his art and painting, his humanitarian works, how Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Bishop Desmond Tutu, have all called for his release, I am inexorably moved! For Leonard is quite simply the longest serving political prisoner in the world - others have been released - Aung San Suu Kyi recently for a second time.... the aforesaid Nelson got out but still Leonard is a caged bird. And so it was I collaborated on an artistic tribute with Tomas O'Cartaigh - a book on Leonard called "Spirit of Peltier" published on the web. And here follows one of the poems from that book. Let the call go out to all freedom lovers etc, "We hope and pray that Leonard will see the sun of freedom someday soon!"
First Nations' Covenant of the Free
Oh Native American heroes
arise from the abyss
with wisps of indignation
silence the cobra's hiss
Sitting Bull come from the clouds
bespeak Leonard's creeds
the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore
bespangle with love's rich seeds
Crazy Horse the veils confound
and bless the Lakota;
with righteous steeds on the Plains
break the corralled Dakota
Chief Joseph sweetly suffuse,
mid cycle and age, do saunter,
let your philosophies infuse
Obama's will mould in a canter
Little Crow breeze your echo
reincarnate with seismic heckle
liberate the 'Red' nations
for Leonard's cause to tackle
Red Cloud awaken now
your warrior spirit reborn,
in Big Bang, great Pow Wow,
hear the sighing Sioux's horn
Geronimo out o' the haze
sweetly imbue the Indian,
in the house of the White man's scorn
raid the creek and canyon
Tecumseh rise from the pantheon
your sons and daughters renew,
like a halycon wave herculean
where dark clouds subdue
Leonard Peltier is of your line
his food is heroes' victuals,
with emblems of the Pan Indian
unite the First Nations rituals!
www.spiritofpeltier.com
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