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Quote by Leonard Peltier

“AIM in essence is a movement rather than just an organization. It is a manifestation of the desperation of our people.”

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Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier is an American Indian activist born on September 12, 1944. He is known for his involvement in the American Indian rights movement, particularly his role in the American Indian Movement (AIM). more

“During that time period all of our tribes were suffering extremely from poverty and neglect. And the reason I say neglect is because the U.S. Government was neglecting its true responsibilities they agreed to in exchange for our land and resources. What I and others attempted to do, and in essence we did, was bring attention to our sovereign rights, the rights we had retained when the treaties were made.”

Made Reason Government Suffering Attention Responsibility Poverty Rights Land Periods Resources Essence Neglect Sovereign Tribes Treaties Time Periods

Author:Leonard Peltier

“I was like so many others passion-ately involved in trying to bring those truths to the world's attention. We did our very best to peacefully do that. The city, state, and federal governments did their very best to quell our efforts. They were used to using heavy-handed tactics to silence us.”

World Trying States Government Used Passion Effort Cities Attention Silence Involved Heavy Federal Government Tactics

Author:Leonard Peltier

“It is difficult for me to talk about some of these things without reliving the extreme emotions and loss one always feels for the untimely deaths of acquaintances, family and friends, all because they stood up against the unlawful tyranny of non-Indian America.”

Feels America Difficult Loss Emotion Extremes Tyranny Indian Family And Friends Acquaintance Stood Up Unlawful Untimely Death

Author:Leonard Peltier

“The America that never cared or felt guilty about portraying us as undignified people on their television screen, or in some old history book that never stated truthfully the facts of our invasion or the cruelty we had to endure for generations.”

People Book Facts America Felt Generations Television Endure Screens Cruelty Guilty Invasion History Books Portraying

Author:Leonard Peltier

“I do not believe Federal Government fear me at all, they know the truth. They know I am not a dangerous person, they hold me as a hostage to discourage other people from possibly standing up to their valued system. In their minds, right or wrong the public is expected to lay down for them. You see examples of this, at the Ruby Ridge massacre and the Waco massacre, where they killed all those children and group members.”

“This American government has become very adept at attaching labels to people who defend themselves, so that the general population in America will condone their behavior.”

People Government America Behavior Population Labels American Government Adept

Author:Leonard Peltier

“You can see examples of this, such as where [George W.] Bush lied to the public, and as a result 72 percent of America was in favor of the Iraqi invasion. Yet now the truth has presented itself and they are trying to save face by appealing to the public's national-istic persona, talking about winning and honor and everything as a reason to continue that illegal immoral occupation.”

Trying Reason America Faces Winning Results Talking Example Honor Percent Favors Illegal Occupation Immoral Lied Invasion Persona

Author:Leonard Peltier

“If you look at Iraq and Afghanistan's situations, they are quickly becoming much like our reservations. They will have puppet governments funded and controlled by a U.S. Government that siphoned off their resources. You don't have to be an English major to read the writing on the wall; I am in here as a warning to others, just like those men who are in Guantanamo are a warning to others - if you stand up to us you face these same consequences.”

“They [Federal Goverment] don't care if I am guilty or innocent. I serve their purpose in here. Other than what I have mentioned, what fear could they possibly have from a old man with dimming eyesight, arthritis, diabetes, and other health issues that render me hardly a threat to anyone.”

Ifs Men Care Purpose Issues Threat Don't Care Innocent Guilty Old Man Diabetes Eyesight Arthritis Health Issues

Author:Leonard Peltier

“Famous people complain about fame, but they never want to give it back, myself included.”

People Want Giving Fame Complaining

Book:Seducing the Demon: Writing for My Life

Source: Seducing the Demon: Writing for My Life

Quote by Leonard Peltier

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