Cynthia Ann McKinney (born March 17, 1955) is a former United States Representative and the 2008 Green Party nominee for President of the United States. McKinney served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993–2003 and 2005–2007, first representing Georgia's 11th Congressional District and then Georgia's 4th Congressional District. She is the first African-American woman to have represented Georgia in the House. In the 1992 election, McKinney was elected in the newly re-created 11th District, and was re-elected in 1994. When her district was redrawn and renumbered due to the Supreme Court of the United States ruling in Miller v. Johnson, McKinney was easily elected from the new 4th District in the 1996 election, and was re-elected twice without substantive opposition. McKinney was defeated by Denise Majette in the 2002 Democratic primary, in part due to Republican crossover voting in Georgia's open primary election, which permits anyone from any party to vote in any party primary, and in part due to her "controversial profile, which included a suggestion that George W. Bush knew in advance of the September 11 attacks. (from wikipedia) McKinney recently risked her life on the Free Gaza ship rammed by Israel as she joined doctors to deliver medical aid to Palestine.
www.opednews.com/articles/President-Obama-Let-Pelti-by-Cynthia-McKinney-090128-87.html
President Obama, Let Peltier Live!
by Cynthia McKinney
January 28, 2009
Today, I sent this message to the President:"Mr. President, Justice delayed is justice denied. Leonard Peltier's family report that he has been brutally beaten while in custody. Peltier should be released. He has become a global symbol of injustice and prison abuse. Imprisoned in the late 1970s, Peltier has never been given a fair trial. Yet he has been a model prisoner.
In April he wrote: "Given the choice of lying down to die or standing up to live, we chose to live." Let Peltier live. Please free Leonard Peltier now."It's easy to send a message to President Obama to help him deliver on the hope and change he promised.
Now is the time for us to act.
Unfortunately, the President has already signed an order allowing the continued bombing of Pakistan and his promised Afghanistan surge is underway. What that means for all of us is more war. If we are to have true and lasting peace, it should be clear by now that we won't get it by confining our electoral choices to only the ones presented to us in sophisticated, highly managed public relations campaigns.
True and lasting peace will come only with justice. Freeing our political prisoners, including Peltier, Mumia, Sundiata, Mutulu, Imam El-Amin, our Puerto Rican political prisoners, and so many more is but a down payment on the path of justice and reconciliation that our country so sorely needs.
Cynthia McKinney
IPF WEBSITE: http://users.skynet.be/kola/index.htm and www.myspace.com/leonardpeltierisinnocent
IPF e-mail:ipforum@skynet.be
Also, please visit the website of the
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LPDOC): http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/
LPDOC e-mail: http://us.mc330.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info
FEBRUARY 6, 2009 EVENT FOR LEONARD PELTIER AT C.U BOULDER
Leonard Peltier : 33 Years Behind Bars, 33 Years Searching for American Justice
"America,when will you live up to your own principles?" (Leonard Peltier)
Boulder, Colorado -- The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (Colorado Support Groups),
Indigenous Support Network and 180-11 will be presenting an educational event on the University of Colorado campus on February 6th, 2009 to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of Native American political prisoner, Leonard Peltier.
The event will feature talks by Chief Leonard Crow Dog(world recognized spiritual leader), as well as David Hill and Ben Carnes, of the LPDOC. There will also be performances from local Lakota drum group, the Plenty Wolf Singers and Aztec dancers, Grupo Tlaloc, from Denver. The event will begin at 7:00pm in room 100 of the Mathematics building.
(The LPDOC will also be staging a rally followed by a march outside the Boulder City Courthouse on Pearl Street starting at noon on Feb.6th 2009 - same day)
Leonard Peltier is an internationally recognized political prisoner who has been imprisoned for 33 years (recognized by Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Amnesty International, Robert Redford, Willie Nelson etc.)
This case needs to be brought back into public awareness at this pivotal time in American history. With the inauguration of our first minority president, we need to look soberly at our history in order to bring about a future of justice, equity and healing for the nation. Especially in regards to the treatment of the first nations peoples of the western hemisphere.
To quote Leonard Peltier, "To heal will require real effort, and a change of heart, from all of us. To heal means that we will begin to look upon one another with respect and tolerance instead of prejudice, distrust and hatred. We will have to teach our children-as well as ourselves-to love the diversity of humanity....We can do it. Yes, you and I and all of us together. Now is the time. Now is the only possible time. Let the Great Healing begin."
(Peltier-from Prison Writings-My Life is my Sun Dance).
The ideals of a nation and a man's life are hanging in the balance.
Wakan Tanka, Unshimala yo (Great Mystery have pity on us) Mitakuye Oyasin (All My Relations). For More info contact Mark "Silent Bear" LPBSG-Boulder silentbear55@yahoo.com
and or Nat Kramer- ISN Nathaniel.Kramer@colorado.edu
and for inquiries directed toward the LPDOC: Ben Carnes eaglemountainsc@earthlink.net
Our Website: www.myspace.com/lpbsgboulder
LPDOC website http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/
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