Lawrence (Pun) Plamondon
Encyclopedia
Lawrence "Pun" Plamondon was a 1960s left-wing activist who was one of the founders of the White Panther Party
. He was the first hippie
to be listed on the FBI's Most Wanted List.
Plamondon's father was half-Ottawa Indian
and his mother was part-Ojibwa Indian, but he was unaware of this early in life. These facts were revealed to him only by investigative papers turned over to his lawyers during his prosecution. He learned that while both his birth parents were institutionalized, he was conceived out of wedlock and given up for adoption. A Traverse City, MI couple adopted him and gave him his name, Lawrence Robert Plamondon. Plamondon, feeling he just didn't fit in, led a troubled youth and left home as a teenager.
At the age of 21, Plamondon wound up in Detroit in 1967 during its turbulent year of war protests and riots. He lived on the streets and made friends with radicals including Allen Ginsberg
. Making sandals during the day and smoking pot in the evening, he was soon meeting with people like journalist Peter Werbe
, John Sinclair
and artist Gary Grimshaw who were running the two underground newspapers, the Warren-Forest Sun and the Fifth Estate.
In 1968, Plamondon with a few of his friends moved to Ann Arbor where they established a commune at 1510 Hill Street. With John Sinclair, they founded the White Panther Party, a group supporting the Black Panther Party
in its goals. While there, he learned of his indictment on charges of being a conspirator in the bombing of the CIA office in Ann Arbor on September 29, 1968. Changing his appearance, he went underground and fled to San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Germany, Italy, and finally to Algeria
. In May 1969, he was listed on the FBI's Most Wanted List.
After a few months he covertly returned to the United States. In July 1970, Plamondon was discovered and arrested after an earlier stop for littering. While waiting trial and after being convicted his appeals, he spent 32 months in federal prison. During the trial, it was discovered that the government officials admitted to wiretapping without a warrant
which led to the dismissal of the charges. The case went to the United States Supreme Court and was decided in United States vs. United States District Court
, which held that even the president of the United States' invocation of "national security" couldn't insulate illegal activity from Constitutional rights to privacy. 407 U.S. 297
(1972).
Later, Plamondon found work driving equipment trucks for rock bands including KISS
and Foreigner
.
His life was characterized by alcohol and drug abuse, but in 1981 an American Indian, Lewis Sawaquat, introduced him to his Indian heritage and he cleaned himself up.
Plamondon lives in Barry County, Michigan
with his wife Patricia Lynn. He is a self-employed carpenter. He tells American Indian stories to young children at schools, libraries and museums. Situated on a 40 acre (162,000 m²) lot, his home is a gathering place for American Indian celebrations.
Plamondon's web site
White Panther Party
The White Panthers were a far-left, anti-racist, White American political collective founded in 1968 by Lawrence Plamondon, Leni Sinclair, and John Sinclair. It was started in response to an interview where Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, was asked what white people could do...
. He was the first hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
to be listed on the FBI's Most Wanted List.
Plamondon's father was half-Ottawa Indian
Ottawa (tribe)
The Odawa or Ottawa, said to mean "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people. They are one of the Anishinaabeg, related to but distinct from the Ojibwe nation. Their original homelands are located on Manitoulin Island, near the northern shores of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula in...
and his mother was part-Ojibwa Indian, but he was unaware of this early in life. These facts were revealed to him only by investigative papers turned over to his lawyers during his prosecution. He learned that while both his birth parents were institutionalized, he was conceived out of wedlock and given up for adoption. A Traverse City, MI couple adopted him and gave him his name, Lawrence Robert Plamondon. Plamondon, feeling he just didn't fit in, led a troubled youth and left home as a teenager.
At the age of 21, Plamondon wound up in Detroit in 1967 during its turbulent year of war protests and riots. He lived on the streets and made friends with radicals including Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
. Making sandals during the day and smoking pot in the evening, he was soon meeting with people like journalist Peter Werbe
Peter Werbe
Peter Werbe is a radio talk show host and political activist. He hosts Nightcall Sunday nights on Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM. Werbe's tenure, having commenced in 1970, makes him one of the longest broadcasting talk show hosts in radio history.-Nightcall:...
, John Sinclair
John Sinclair (poet)
John Sinclair is a Detroit poet, one-time manager of the band MC5, and leader of the White Panther Party — a militantly anti-racist countercultural group of white socialists seeking to assist the Black Panthers in the Civil Rights movement — from November 1968 to July 1969...
and artist Gary Grimshaw who were running the two underground newspapers, the Warren-Forest Sun and the Fifth Estate.
In 1968, Plamondon with a few of his friends moved to Ann Arbor where they established a commune at 1510 Hill Street. With John Sinclair, they founded the White Panther Party, a group supporting the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
in its goals. While there, he learned of his indictment on charges of being a conspirator in the bombing of the CIA office in Ann Arbor on September 29, 1968. Changing his appearance, he went underground and fled to San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Germany, Italy, and finally to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. In May 1969, he was listed on the FBI's Most Wanted List.
After a few months he covertly returned to the United States. In July 1970, Plamondon was discovered and arrested after an earlier stop for littering. While waiting trial and after being convicted his appeals, he spent 32 months in federal prison. During the trial, it was discovered that the government officials admitted to wiretapping without a warrant
Warrant (law)
Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
which led to the dismissal of the charges. The case went to the United States Supreme Court and was decided in United States vs. United States District Court
United States v. U.S. District Court
United States v. U.S. District Court, 407 U.S. 297 , also known as the Keith case, was a landmark United States Supreme Court decision that upheld, in a unanimous 8-0 ruling, the requirements of the Fourth Amendment in cases of domestic surveillance targeting a domestic threat.-The case:The United...
, which held that even the president of the United States' invocation of "national security" couldn't insulate illegal activity from Constitutional rights to privacy. 407 U.S. 297
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(1972).
Later, Plamondon found work driving equipment trucks for rock bands including KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
and Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
.
His life was characterized by alcohol and drug abuse, but in 1981 an American Indian, Lewis Sawaquat, introduced him to his Indian heritage and he cleaned himself up.
Plamondon lives in Barry County, Michigan
Barry County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-37* M-43* M-50* M-66* M-78* M-79* M-89* M-179-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of...
with his wife Patricia Lynn. He is a self-employed carpenter. He tells American Indian stories to young children at schools, libraries and museums. Situated on a 40 acre (162,000 m²) lot, his home is a gathering place for American Indian celebrations.
Writings
Plamondon's autobiography:- Lost from the Ottawa: The Story of the Journey Back; catalogue #04-0093; ISBN 1-4120-2265-7;
Plamondon's web site