Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 15:05:22 -0500
Subject: [Mike's Message] A Christmas Appeal to President Clinton --
A Message from Michael Moore
From: "Mike's Message" <mikemail@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <michaelmoore-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
December 21, 2000
Dear President Clinton:
Today, you begin your last month in office. There are many things my
Friends and I wish you could have accomplished in these last eight
years. I'm sure you feel the same way.
There are a few things, though, you could do in the next 30 days that
Would bring freedom to just three people. I am asking you to be a hero
to three individuals who continue to experience a profound injustice. You,
as President, can correct the suffering they have had to endure. In the
Spirit of the season, I am hoping you will consider my appeal...
1. Pardon Leonard Peltier. Mr. Peltier, a leader of the American Indian
Movement, has been in prison for over two decades. Amnesty International
and every other human rights organization in the world considers him to
be a political prisoner. The evidence is clear he did not commit the crime
he is in prison for (the killing of a federal agent during an uprising at
the Wounded Knee reservation... see http://www.freepeltier.org/).
Native Americans have barely survived the genocide that white Americans
began over 400 years ago. That we would imprison just one innocent
Native American is not only abhorrent, it is a continuation of that
genocide. This man was punished for his political beliefs. He has suffered
enough. Sign the pardon today.
2. Pardon Howard Mechanic. Howard, like yourself, was an anti-war
protester at Washington U in St. Louis. His crime: he threw a cherry
bomb. No one was harmed, no property was damaged, but Howard was given a
five year sentence. After loosing the appeal, he ran.
For the past 30 years, he lived a quiet life in Arizona, raised a
family, did charity work, and fought for the underdog. Until he was caught.
Now he is in prison. He never committed a crime. The New York Times magazine
ran an incredible story on him earlier this year. Not only is this man no
threat, he is an asset to our society, actively involved in his community.
(See http://www.howardmechanic.org/)
The Vietnam War is over. Why are we still fighting it by persecuting
People like Howard Mechanic? This could have been you, Mr. President
when you were at an anti-war rally. Release him from prison immediately.
3. Tell Peru to Return Lori Berenson. Lori has been in a Peruvian prison
for over 5 years. They accused her of conspiring to help a rebel group
there. She was in Peru working as a freelance journalist . She never got
a real trial (see http://www.freelori.org/). This could be your daughter,
Mr. President -- a young, idealistic girl, traveling to a foreign country to
shed light on the way people are treated, and because she was seen talking
to or hanging out with the wrong people, she is imprisoned for life! In
fact, this could have been YOU, Mr. Clinton. What if during your college
travels to the U.K. or the Soviet Union you were seen chumming with IRA
people or Soviet dissidents? What if the secret police just whisked you away
without a trial?
This is an outrage. I know you have asked the Peruvian officials about
Her well-being, but enough is enough. They now claim they will give her
a new "trial." No way. NO more Peruvian "justice" for one of our young
citizens. Demand that they return her now or Peru will face harsh sanctions
from the United States. All you really need to do is just pick up the phone
and make a call. You don't even have to tell us what you say to them. Just
do it.
Now, that's not a lot to ask of you, is it? Three of our fellow humans
languishing unjustly in prison. There are many, many more. I suppose if
you really wanted to go down in the history books, you could reduce
everyone's federal sentence on death row to life imprisonment. Better
yet, you could issue orders to stop arresting our black and Hispanic
citizens at such a disproportional rate in your "War on Drugs." THAT would
be an act of courage.
I ask all who read this to join me in this appeal. Write to President
Clinton at: The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
E-mail: president@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone: 202-456-1414
Fax: 202-456-2461
And just for fun, just to make a final point about the sacredness of
everyone's vote, you could make Al Gore -- not George W. Bush -- the
43rd president of the United States! That's right, you can make the will
of the people a reality. And it's legal. Just resign a couple days early.
Al, according to the Constitution, automatically becomes president. As I
have said for years, it matters little which one of you Republicrats is
in the Oval Office, so what the heck! Actually, the one thing we will miss
about you is your sense of humor. Give us all a good laugh and force
Baby Bush into having to succeed Al Gore. Make him have to physically take
the legitimate reigns of power from the actual winner of the election into
his illegitimate hands!
And -- think of how much the Republicans and the Inauguration Committee
will have to spend changing all the pre-printed banners and napkins that
say "George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States of America."
It'll drive them crazy.
Yours,
Michael Moore
mmflint@xxxxxxx
www.michaelmoore.com