Free Leonard Peltier NOW
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Schatz to Biden: "Mr. Peltier meets appropriate criteria for commutation: (1) his old age and critical illness, (2) the amount of time he has already served, and (3) the unavailability of other remedies."
"Mr. Peltier should be granted a commutation of his sentence.” 9:08 PM · 1/26/2022
yahoo carries the story: Sen. Brian Schatz Urges Biden To Commute Leonard Peltier’s Prison Sentence Jennifer Bendery Wed, January 26, 2022 Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, on Wednesday urged President Joe Biden to commute Leonard Peltier’s prison sentence and let the Native American rights activist finally go home.
“I commend your administration’s commitment to righting past wrongs in our criminal justice system. In continuing that work as you consider recommendations for individuals to receive clemency, I write to urge you to grant a commutation of Leonard Peltier’s sentence,” Schatz wrote to Biden in a new letter obtained by HuffPost.
“Mr. Peltier meets appropriate criteria for commutation: (1) his old age and critical illness, (2) the amount of time he has already served, and (3) the unavailability of other remedies,” the Democratic senator said. “Mr. Peltier should be granted a commutation of his sentence.” https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sen-brian-schatz-urges-biden-010745244.html
American Indian Movement Announces Walk for Leonard Peltier Darren Thompson, Native News Online 1/4/2022 MINNEAPOLIS — The American Indian Movement’s Grand Governing Council (AIMGGC) announced on Tuesday that it’s organizing a freedom walk for Leonard Peltier later this year, from September 1 through November 14, 2022. https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/american-indian-movement-announces-walk-for-leonard-peltier
Tampa Bay activists to host a 'Free Leonard Peltier' event and film screening this month (January) By Justin Garcia on Mon, Jan 17, 2022
President Biden: Enough is Enough, Free Leonard Peltier By Levi Rickert, Native News Online, 1/30/2022 https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/president-biden-enough-is-enough-free-leonard-peltier 'Tears of joy': Large turnout to Dakota memorial ride to honor slain ancestors Jordan Smith, Free Press, 12/26/2021 Several others lamented the imprisonment of Leonard Peltier, who for 44 years has been behind bars for his alleged involvement in the 1975 killing of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Peltier says he was present for the shoot-out, which also left one Native American dead, but steadfastly denies having killed anyone.
Riders carried a staff made for Peltier and had a moment of silence to pray for the man whom human rights groups designate a political prisoner. A 77-year-old diabetic with heart problems, Peltier has grown increasingly frail in prison.
America’s longest-serving political prisoner Leonard Peltier has said that prison has become a “torture chamber” as Covid-19 lockdowns have turned “an already harsh environment into an asylum”.
The Native American activist, who has spent more than four decades behind bars for a crime he says he didn’t commit, told HuffPost that the pandemic has pushed life inside “back to the Dark Ages” and that the “fear and stress” is taking its toll on both inmates and staff. Could America’s longest-serving ‘political prisoner’ be on the verge of freedom?
“COVID has turned Coleman Prison back to the Dark Ages,” he said.
“I’m in hell, and there is no way to deal with it but to take it as long as you can. I cling to the belief that people are out there doing what they can to change our circumstances in here.
“The fear and stress are taking a toll on everyone, including the staff. You can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices. The whole institution is on total lockdown.”
Peltier, who is 77 years old and has various health conditions, described the loneliness of being locked down with “no phone, no window, no fresh air — no humans to gather — no love ones voice” as similar to “staring down the face” of a death penalty.
“In and out of lockdown last year at least meant a shower every third day, a meal beyond a sandwich wet with a little peanut butter — but now with COVID for an excuse, nothing,” he said.
“No phone, no window, no fresh air — no humans to gather — no love ones voice. No relief. Left alone and without attention is like a torture chamber for the sick and old.”
He added: “They are turning an already harsh environment into an asylum, and for many who did not receive a death penalty, we are now staring down the face of one!
“Help me, my brothers and sisters, help me my good friends.”
Leonard Peltier Pleads For Help Amid Constant COVID Lockdowns In Prison Jennifer Bendery, HuffPost, 1/23/2022 Leonard Peltier, Native American activist. Never mind that he shouldn’t be in a federal prison at all. https://news.yahoo.com/leonard-peltier-pleads-help-amid-142926464.html
ADAMS: Reflections on Bloody Sunday Gerry Adams, Irish Echo 2/3/2022 Leonard Peltier has Covid. The Native American rights activist has spent almost 45 years in prison and was already suffering ill-health. His family and supporters are deeply concerned at this serious risk to his life and have renewed their appeal for President Joe Biden to exercise clemency. I support their call for Leonard to be freed. https://www.irishecho.com/2022/2/adams-reflections-on-bloody-sunday
Free Leonard Peltier! COVID-19 inside prison By Judy Greenspan, Workers World, 1/31/2022 In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic currently raging through the jail, prison and detention centers of this country, Leonard Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band, Chippewa Nation), an Indigenous leader and political prisoner, has issued a cry for help. https://www.workers.org/2022/01/61466/
reprinted from International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee facebook
“Greetings Relatives, Each year as November nears I try to think back on all that has happened in my world in the past 12 months. And I know that in my world I can only see a very small part of what is happening on the outside. For me, this year somehow seems to carry more weight than usual.
I have passed ever so slowly into the world of the elderly. I am now closer to 80 than to 70. The truth is I never believed I would live this long. I was just passed 31 old when I came to prison. It was almost half a century ago. My body is now the body of an old man. And it is harder to try to keep myself from being overtaken by sickness or depression or loneliness. They are constant companions here. I keep them at arms length and I know I cannot ever let them overtake me. If I allow that to happen it will be the end. There is no mercy here. No compassion.
I cannot even imagine what it is like on the outside. I only hear stories and cannot believe half of what I hear.
For me, the best days here at USP Coleman 1 in Florida were the days when we could be outside in the yard and feel the sun. Even though they purposely built the walls so high that we cannot even see the treetops, the occasional bird or butterfly gives a welcome glimpse of our relatives in the natural world, but even that is very rare now.
I know Covid has cost all of us, you and me, in many ways. And I offer my condolences for all of you who have lost loved ones and friends to it.
Here inside the steel and concrete walls it is no different. Constant lock downs caused by both Covid and Violence have made life here even harder than usual. I have not been allowed to paint in eighteen months and we are almost always in some form of lockdown.
We are stuck in our cells for days at a time. It is an extremely rare day when we get to go outside to the yard.
I feel moved to try to explains something that has been on my mind for many years. I think maybe it will be helpful if I say the words out loud.
When we started to emerge from the darkness of Residential schools it became clear that we had to go back to try and reclaim what they robbed from us.
And what they robbed us of was the very heart of who we were. Our language, our ways and our connections back home. They wanted us leaving those “schools” thinking like little non-indians who would just go along with the program and not rock the boat. Even with all the terrible damage they did to so many of us, many of us did survive them. And then we began the process of reclaiming our culture and way of life. I know that process continues to this day.
I am so deeply saddened in hearing the stories of all the children’s graves they are finding at Residential schools. I guess I was one of the lucky ones who made it home. But the death of those children is so sad and outrageous and I am glad the world is finding out at last.
Back then even our home at Turtle Mountain was under threat of Government termination. I remember how hard my Dad who was a World War II veteran fought to save us.
Over the years we fought so many fights to keep our way of life alive and protect the natural world. After our family was relocated to Portland, Oregon I took part in the fishing struggles with Billy Frank and his Nisqually people at Frank’s Landing. The rednecks were cutting up their nets and attacking both woman and men who just wanted to continue to fish as their ancestors did.
And when they shot Hank Adams it was a very dark time and outraged all of us but we stood strong to protect the Nisqully people. I will always be proud of that.
There were so many outrages back then.
When the land at Fort Lawton in Washington State fell into disuse we went there and occupied it under old treaty law. That was also a hard time. At one point soldiers were pointing flame throwers at us. But we held our ground and eventually they gave in. We put our good friend Bernie White Bear in charge and he helped to build the Daybreak Star Center that is still a great asset to Indian people today. Bernie is gone now as are so many of the others from those days.
Same thing when we took the abandoned Coast Guard Station in Milwaukee with Herb Powless. Our actions might have been unpopular at the time but they led to a school, alcohol treatment center and employment office. The school is still thriving and is an asset to the Native community and the Milwaukee area. Herb is gone too.
So even though the price we Paid was very very high we did make things better for our people and we did help to turn things around.
I wonder if many people understand the events in our history and how connected they are. I was born in 1944. The massacre at Wounded Knee was in 1890. That was just 54 years earlier and both Geronimo and Chief Joseph died only 35 years earlier in 1909. Think about that. 35 years ago now it was 1986.
Not very long ago at all.
I want to leave you with some positive thoughts.
Retired United States Attorney James Reynolds did an interview with the Huffington Post last week and actually apologized to me for all the wrong they did to me. I hope that is spread all over the world and I am grateful to him.
I can say that I am heartened and encouraged by the courageous water protectors from Standing Rock to the beautiful manoomin (wild rice) lands of Northern Minnesota.
I am proud of Winona LaDuke and her peoples work to protect those beautiful lands and lakes and her work to offer alternatives to fossil fuels.
Using hemp could fix so many things. It is not something we can fix in a year or ten years but it is something that all reasonable people should understand.
We cannot poison the water that sustains us. All of us. Not just Native and First Nations people, but all people. We have that in common. People should understand, we are trying to protect our homes and our natural lands. Water IS life.
And I am deeply grateful for the courage and Vision of Deb Haaland the new Secretary of the Interior Department. I know she went to Alcatraz this week. That is an acknowledgment that what we did was right and honorable. I was not at Alcatraz but those of us, woman and men who stood up in those days were right. And in other parts of the country we formed our own branches of United Indians of all Tribes. So their efforts led to others joining in.
I heard that Deb Haaland said that the day has come when Indians no longer have to protest to be heard by the U.S. Government. That is music to my old ears.
Our people were, and many still are, suffering.
Anyone of any race would do the same things to stop the sufferings of their people.
I wish all of you good health and happiness in all you do. You are in my prayers and I am grateful to all of you who have supported me or will support me going forward.
I still hold out hope that I can make it home to Turtle Mountain while I can still walk out under my own power.
I remain grateful for the gift of life.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Doksha, Leonard Peltier”
Leonard Peltier Is America’s Longest-Serving Political Prisoner. Biden May Be His Last Hope. The FBI put the Native American activist behind bars 44 years ago based on lies, threats and no proof he committed a crime. Why is he still there? Huffington Post By Jennifer Bendery, November 12, 2021 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/leonard-peltier-prison-clemency-biden_n_618049f3e4b059d0bfc19e5c
An Open Letter to Biden from Indigenous Peoples Trump wrecked the relationship between the U.S. government and Native nations. Here’s how the Biden Administration can repair this damage. Rural America In These Times February 11, 2021 https://inthesetimes.com/article/open-letter-biden-indigenous-peoples
It’s time to free Leonard Peltier, America’s longest serving political Prisoner KCRW, Scheer Intelligence, by Robert Scheer Dec. 03, 2021 Now, as Peltier struggles with his health at the age of 77, there is mounting pressure for President Biden to offer the Native American activist the presidential pardon so many of his predecessors--including Bill Clinton--have failed to give him. This week Sen. Patrick Leahy became the most senior U.S. government official to call for Peltier’s release, joining hundreds of thousands of people, including Pope Francis, Coretta Scott King, and Willie Nelson, who have expressed their support for Peltier. Even James Reynolds, the U.S. attorney who helped put Peltier in prison in the 1970s, appealed in a letter to Biden to send Peltier home.“I write today from a position rare for a former prosecutor: to beseech you to commute the sentence of a man who I helped put behind bars,” he wrote. “With time, and the benefit of hindsight, I have realized that the prosecution and continued incarceration of Mr. Peltier was and is unjust. We were not able to prove that Mr. Peltier personally committed any offense on the Pine Ridge Reservation.” https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/scheer-intelligence/its-time-to-free-leonard-peltier-americas-longest-serving-political-prisoner
Leonard Peltier: The US’🇺🇸 Longest-Serving Political Prisoner Dec 18, 2021 Going Underground on RT
Patrick Leahy Calls For Leonard Peltier's Release From Prison The former Judiciary Committee chairman and longest-serving U.S. senator says it's time for the Native American activist to go home after 44 years. Huffington Post, By Jennifer Bendery, 11/30/2021 Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the former longtime chair of the Judiciary Committee and the longest-serving member of the U.S. Senate, said Tuesday that it’s time for Native American activist Leonard Peltier to be released from federal prison and go home.
Without hesitation, Leahy, who is currently chair of the Appropriations Committee, answered yes to all of HuffPost’s questions about Peltier.
Do you know who Peltier is? “Yes.”
The Native American activist who’s been in prison? For decades? “Yes.”
Is it time for him to be released? “Yes.”
It appears to be the first time Leahy has urged freedom for Peltier, making him the highest-ranked official in the U.S. government calling for his release. Leahy, who has announced he’s retiring from the Senate, is third in the line of succession to the presidency, just after Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California). https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patrick-leahy-leonard-peltier-prison-release_n_61a690e0e4b0ae9a42b4b8ff
Patrick Leahy Agrees: It's Time to Free Leonard Peltier The American Indian Movement activist—often called America's longest-incarcerated political prisoner—has been jailed 44 years after being dubiously convicted of murdering two FBI agents. BRETT WILKINS, Common Dreams, December 1, 2021 U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy has become the most senior U.S. government official to support the release of American Indian Movement militant Leonard Peltier, who supporters say was framed and falsely convicted of murdering two federal agents during a 1975 reservation shootout. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/12/01/patrick-leahy-agrees-its-time-free-leonard-peltier
Sanford Heisler Sharp Expands Leadership Team, Promotes Five, Adds Seven Lawyers Across National Platform Nov. 1, 2021 Kevin Sharp, the firm’s former Nashville Managing Partner and named partner of the firm assumes the key leadership position of Co-Vice Chair of the firm, joining Jeremy Heisler, a co-founder and Co-Vice Chair of the firm. Sharp came to Sanford Heisler Sharp after serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee from May 2011 through April 2017, including service from 2014 to 2017 as the court’s Chief Judge. A graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law, he also serves as Co-Chair of Sanford Heisler Sharp’s Public Interest Litigation Practice. Since joining the firm Sharp has taken on individual and class employment litigation and has led the firm’s efforts representing cities and counties seeking damages for harm caused by the opioid crisis. He is a national advocate for prison and criminal justice reform, sentencing reform, and is leading the effort to gain clemency for American Indian Movement activist, Leonard Peltier, who has wrongfully imprisoned for 46 years. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sanford-heisler-sharp-expands-leadership-150500383.html
This year marks 45 years since the illegal and cruel incarceration of
Leonard Peltier, a political prisoner and world-renowned fighter for
Native liberation. To honor Leonard’s fight for freedom and his support
for the struggle to save the environment, a group of supporters
referring to themselves as Freedom Riders set out on a horseback journey
from the Winnebago Nation in Omaha, Nebr., to Washington D.C. They are
stopping along the way in various cities to raise awareness about
Leonard’s case.
The Freedom Riders describe their journey on their website,
“As First peoples, along with our allies of all colors, we are
committed to this journey across mother earth, not only for Leonard‘s
freedom, but for the respect due to all of the two legged, four legged
and winged beings that exist here, and for their protection and for
future generations.” They will also be raising awareness about honoring
Native treaties that are routinely flouted by the U.S. government.
The Freedom Riders arrived in Washington D.C., June 21 where they are
leading prayer and drum circles in solidarity with the Black Lives
Matter movement and ending with an outdoor concert. Drummers from the
Oglala nation at the Pine Ridge Reservation, where the shootout that
ultimately led to Leonard’s illegal imprisonment took place, are also
expected to join. Since they began on June 6, the Freedom Riders have
been amassing supporters along the way with rising excitement to fight
for the freedom of Leonard Peltier.
Leonard Peltier’s long fight for freedom
Peltier was wrongfully convicted for a shootout at Oglala on June 26,
1975, and surrounding events, for which the U.S. government and the FBI
are solely responsible. Since then, the U.S. government has rejected
numerous appeals for his freedom despite widespread requests for
clemency.
The International Leonard Peltier
Defense Committee has launched an urgent appeal for funds to support
legal efforts to free this Native political prisoner, who has been held in U.S. dungeons for 45 years.
Peltier is a leader of the American
Indian Movement, who was framed and jailed for the 1975 deaths of two
FBI agents who had invaded the Jumping Bull compound on Pine Ridge
Reservation and started a shootout at dawn, over a warrant for alleged
theft of a pair of cowboy boots. (tinyurl.com/y4ncc5ee)
FBI intervention had increased following the 1973 AIM-led occupation of
the town of Wounded Knee, site of the 1890 U.S. 7th Cavalry’s massacre
of Big Foot’s Band of 300 Lakota, who were starving and struggling in
blizzard conditions to reach the new reservation and surrender.
The ILPDC strategy is three-pronged.
First, at Peltier’s request, lawyers will be working to get him
transferred closer to his family on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in
North Dakota. Second, his legal team will continue to work on a possible
parole hearing for early summer. Third, the attorney in Peltier’s
first-amendment case in Seattle, Wash., is prepared for trial this
summer.
Despite strong support by former U.S.
Attorney James Reynolds, 55 members of Congress and international
dignitaries including Bishop Desmond Tutu, the U.S. government refuses
to release Peltier, whose health is rapidly failing after more than four
decades of incarceration.
To make a donation to Peltier’s legal effort and to support his campaign for freedom, please go to the ILPDC Facebook Page (facebook.com/PeltierHQ/) and to the fundraiser. (tinyurl.com/yxtkb77a) This is the year to free Leonard Peltier!
