Free Douglas White
Douglas White is the oldest living and longest practicing Lakota (Sioux) medicine man from Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. He has spent the last fifteen years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Douglas has seven years left on his sentence and was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. He was given less than one year to live.
In 1991 after a long-standing family feud, Douglas was accused of abusing his two grandsons. The tribe fully investigated the case and found Douglas not guilty of the charges. A year later Douglas was charged with the very same crime by the federal government and tried by an all white jury, 100 miles away from his home in a foreign language. At the age of 72, Douglas was sentenced to 25 years in prison.�
Despite his plea of not guilty (which he has maintained for 17 years), no priors and no history of any such behavior, Douglas was found guilty even though there was no physical evidence. Douglas, like most American Indians, has never been able to afford an attorney. His appeals, requests for compassionate release and a commutation of sentence have all been denied. This is his last and only chance.
In November 2007, Douglas' grandsons confessed that they had never been abused and both signed affidavits stating this. A motion requesting the federal court in Rapid City to reopen the case is being submitted and we need your help to request that the Court give Douglas a chance.
Please sign this petition to request that Douglas' case be reopened.
If you would like more information on Douglas White and his case please visit:
�www.FreeDouglasWhite.com
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Douglas White is the oldest living and longest practicing Lakota (Sioux) medicine man from Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. He has spent the last fifteen years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Douglas has seven years left on his sentence and was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. He was given less than one year to live.
In 1991 after a long-standing family feud, Douglas was accused of abusing his two grandsons. The tribe fully investigated the case and found Douglas not guilty of the charges. A year later Douglas was charged with the very same crime by the federal government and tried by an all white jury, 100 miles away from his home in a foreign language. At the age of 72, Douglas was sentenced to 25 years in prison.�
Despite his plea of not guilty (which he has maintained for 17 years), no priors and no history of any such behavior, Douglas was found guilty even though there was no physical evidence. Douglas, like most American Indians, has never been able to afford an attorney. His appeals, requests for compassionate release and a commutation of sentence have all been denied. This is his last and only chance.
In November 2007, Douglas' grandsons confessed that they had never been abused and both signed affidavits stating this. A motion requesting the federal court in Rapid City to reopen the case is being submitted and we need your help to request that the Court give Douglas a chance.
Please sign this petition to request that Douglas' case be reopened.
If you would like more information on Douglas White and his case please visit:
�www.FreeDouglasWhite.com
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Dear Judge,
We the undersigned�request that you please reopen the case of�The United States of America vs. Douglas White. New evidence of Douglas White's "actual innocence" has been uncovered that would have overturned the jury's verdict had it been available 15 years ago.
The two children in this case, now young men, have both recanted their trial testimonies and have signed�affidavits�that the abuse never happened. The only evidence in this case consisted of these two boys' testimonies which were contradictory and based on leading questions by the prosecution. Witnesses can also testify that the boys denied the charges to medical and legal officials prior to the federal trial. These new circumstances merit the Court's attention.
Today, Mr. White is 87 years old and dying of cancer. Our Constitution allows for post-conviction relief to be requested if evidence of "actual innocence" is uncovered. In the name of justice, we respectfully ask that you please allow Douglas White to present this new evidence before the Court.
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Sincerely,
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The Undersigned
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Wakanda will bring justice for all beings
Please give this man a new and fair trial. This is an honest man and he deserves to be free for what little life he has left. BE FAIR
What a sweet and kind spirit this man has on his face. This injustice is not tolerable. To imprison this holy man is a disgrace and the federal court should be ashamed of what they have done. He is not guilty and should be released immediately to fulfill his life with his family. Andrea Montoya
For this man to be denied his freedom at this time in his life is absolutely ridiculous. No one's rights have been breeched except Mr. White's. He obviously has never abused his grandsons so it appears that there is one more innocent man in prison for a crime that never existed, much less committed.
It is long since time that these injustices STOP!! We pray for the immediate release of Douglas White so he can be with family and friends once again and live in peace.
We pray for you Douglas white...Prayers are strong. This is a true outrage an elder in prison for a crime he did not commit!
I cannot believe how stupid and biased the state government/judicial authority can be... Tribal law was the legal authority in this case and they made a sound judgment. SD state law was not relevant and made a corrupt and unsound interpretation on the case.
This a disgrace, that the U.S. government would do this to the very people that were here before our founding fathers. This act of covicting an innocent man should not go unpunished. I think there should be an investigation in this case and all corrupt positions involved be punished for their involvement in this conspiracy. They should be stripped of their hierarchy position and be punished monetarily as well as with a lenghty term behind bars to see what they have put Douglas White through. I believe that Douglas White is truly innocent of all crimes that he has been falsely charged and convicted of. He has been investigated by a council of his peers, by which the governing body of his people had found him completely innocent. What gives the right to the US government to interveign with the checks and balances of Lakota peoples way of investigating their fellow tribesman for crimes? I think this an outrage and I am ashamed to be an American when I see so much corruption in our so called government offices, that are voted on by the people, for the people of the United States.
Is it not fair to re-open a case?
"The most odious of all oppressions are those which mask as justice." ~~~ U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson ~~~ Krulewitch v United States ~~~ When victim statements were retracted and verified, a hearing should have been held at once to release Mr. White from custody. A formal apology, both verbal and written, should have been made by Federal Prosecutors and the sitting chancellor on behalf of the court, as well as restitution for many years of wrongful imprisonment. A swift civil suit against the "daughter-in-law" should follow, if in fact, the statute has ran out on perjury. How can this gentleman's heart, soul, pride, and dignity EVER be restored? There will be forever a stain upon his heart.
I pray that the ears and eyes of those holding this man be opened. and that justice for one man be the same as justice for another. Only men guilty of crimes belong in jails. honor this man and his family, allow him to be with them when his ancestors come.
It is my sincere hope that Douglas can obtain justice and be freed before he leaves this lifetime.
It's never too late for justice.
Release this good man!
This is simple…either the tribal land and peoples are an independent and sovereign nation or they are not and as such are held to US laws, rights and restrictions. If the first be true, the lands governed under the authority of the Tribal Council are indeed autonomous from US constitution and laws. Then it follows that as a free and sovereign nation, the rule of law falls to said nation, without prejudice by the United States. At which time this prisoner shall be identified as a prisoner of war. POWs are entitled to rights derived from the 1949 Geneva Conventions and other laws and customs of war. (Obtained at http://hrw.org/press/2003/03/pow032403.htm) If the United States cannot prove this prisoner to be a legitimate POW then his release must be immediate and final. If, however, the second be true, then United States law shall prevail. If that be the case, then all US laws shall apply. Under US law, this would be defined as double jeopardy which is unconstitutional and illegal. Being tried twice for the same offense is prohibited by the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. '[T]he Double Jeopardy Clause protects against three distinct abuses: [1] a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal; [2] a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction; and [3] multiple punishments for the same offense.' U.S. v. Halper, 490 U.S. 435, 440 (1989). (Obtained at http://www.lectlaw.com/def/d075.htm) Thus as the legal and democratically elected government, the tribal council and its representatives have already tried said case, the retrial is double jeopardy thus illegal and must be dismissed and the prisoner freed. And I might add the party should be compensated for false imprisonment. Either scenario leads to the same result, immediate release of Doulas White!
Free this innocent Native healer and let him return to his family and his world Ñ and in the process, free your conscience as well, America.
He who walks in the flesh have no power over another,if it is not givin from above. No weapons formed against the inocent can do no harm, Fear not of those who can kill the flesh, but those who can kill both flesh and the spirit. The sheep know the voice of Father God and he protects his own. Father God in the name of Yeshua Give this man Douglas White Justice for only you know all the details of his life. Thank You Amen.
Free Doug!!
Compassion is an important part of justice!
Case addresses many grave and flagrant violations of U.S. and International law!
Free Mr. White now!
Can we say profiling?
OMG!
