An evening with IITC...

...in solidarity with Indigenous People Around the World

Wednesday, December 15 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

In Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples Around the World

La Pena Cultural Center - Berkeley

3105 Shattuck Avenue

Berkeley, CA

An evening with the International Indian Treaty Council

Peltier family accuses U.S. government of medical neglect

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 November 2010
Contact: Delaney Bruce, Legal Team Liaison, Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee, PO Box 7488, Fargo, ND 58106, USA; Telephone: 1-701-235-2206; contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info 

Peltier family accuses U.S. government of medical neglect

“A man dies from prostate cancer every 16 minutes in this country. Why does my brother have to wait over a year to receive even a diagnosis?”

Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who maintains his innocence, was wrongfully convicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1977. Imprisoned for 35 years—currently at the federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania—Peltier has been designated a political prisoner by Amnesty International. Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, 55 Members of Congress and others—including a judge who sat as a member of the court in two of Peltier’s appeals—have all called for his immediate release. Widely recognized for his humanitarian works and a six-time Nobel Prize nominee, Peltier also is an accomplished author and painter.

Sister Betty Solano says Peltier began exhibiting symptoms commonly attributed to prostate cancer over a year ago. His age (he is 66 years old) and family history are risk factors for the disease. Pressured by Peltier’s attorneys, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) ran standard blood tests in June. Peltier received the results last week, over four months later. A physician only now says a biopsy is needed to make a diagnosis.

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 men in the United States. Medical experts agree that the cure rate for prostate cancer is high, but only if detected early.

Even if Peltier doesn’t have cancer, the symptoms indicate a serious medical condition and one that could lead to serious complications if left untreated.

A physician who conducted an independent review of Peltier’s medical records in 2000 concluded that Peltier’s overall medical treatment is below a reasonable standard of care. Decades ago, Peltier suffered a stroke which left him nearly blind in one eye—damage physicians say could have been prevented had he been treated sooner. In the 1990s, there was international outrage after the BOP botched surgeries to correct a jaw problem. Only then was Peltier transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for treatment. Subsequent procedures were recommended by a specialist, but never performed by the BOP.

“Last week, at the United Nations, the United States claimed that it is unequivocally committed to the humane treatment of all individuals in detention, including criminal detention. Delaying tests, avoiding a diagnosis, and preventing proper medical treatment for a potentially life threatening disease is not humane by anyone’s definition,” a spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee said.

“Unfortunately, this situation isn’t unique to Mr. Peltier. Many U.S. prisoners die prematurely because treatment is delayed or denied.”

Family members want the government to release Peltier who was denied parole in 2009. His North Dakota tribe has twice passed a resolution asking the government to transfer Peltier into their custody. Peltier’s many supporters believe his release from prison is the only way Peltier will receive humane treatment.

Can we help you with your finals?

Need a new place to study? Looking for books for your research paper?

 

Come to the Richard Oakes Multicultural Center during Study Week! The ROMC, located on the Terrace Level of the Student Center, will be open to students during Study Week (Dec 6-10) as a quiet study space.

 

The ROMC Resource Library features books and publications on:

o   American Indian Studies

o   African-American Studies

o   Raza Studies

o   Asian/Pacific-Islander Studies

o   Women and Gender Studies and

o   Other historically oppressed communities.

 

Although our books are not yet available for check out, we welcome students to visit us during Study Week, where books from the collection will be available for students to bring into the ROMC study space for research and reference.

 

 

ROMC & ROMC Library Study Week Hours

Monday, Dec 6: 11am-3pm

Tuesday, Dec 7: 10am-7pm

Wednesday Dec 8: 11am-7pm

Thursday Dec 9: 10am-3pm

Friday Dec 10: 10am-5pm

 

The ROMC Resource Library & Archive is located on the Terrace Level of the CCSC, through the Computer Lab in T-143.

 

"Sin by Silence"

You can send a message to the governor here.

Reading for World AIDS Day

Latino Gay Men and HIV by Rafael Diaz seeks to uncover why Latino gay and bisexual men are suffering from AIDS at epic proportions. He takes a close, personal look at the intersections of homophobia, poverty, racism and machismo in creating this problem.

Chronicle of a Plague, Revisited: AIDS and its Aftermath by Andrew Holleran is a republication of Andrew Holleran's original collection of essays written and published in 1988, during the first years of the AIDS crisis. This new collection includes important insights and reflections of the last 20 years since its first publication.

Both of these books are available at the ROMC Resource Library & Archive.