Urgent—Support Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier, like Mumia Abu-Jamal, has become known around the world as a symbol of U.S. government injustice toward the peoples it has abused and betrayed over centuries.

Leonard Peltier

Peltier has a full parole hearing coming up on July 28—the first one since 1993. It is important that all those fighting racism and injustice let the government know that they support Peltier’s release from prison.

Peltier was a leader of the American Indian Movement in 1976 when he was arrested and charged with the deaths of two FBI agents during a shootout at the Pine Ridge Reservation of the Oglala-Lakota Nation. He has now been imprisoned for more than 33 years—one of the world’s longest-held political prisoners—and his health is frail.

According to Amnesty International, the Parole Commission, after an interim hearing that refused to reconsider its 1994 decision to deny Peltier parole, acknowledged that ‘’the prosecution has conceded the lack of any direct evidence that [Peltier] personally participated in the executions of the two FBI agents. ...’’

However, the position of the Parole Commission has been that Peltier must accept “criminal responsibility” for the killings in order to get parole. It’s a “Catch 22” situation for Peltier, who has always maintained his innocence.

Two other AIM members, Dino Butler and Robert Robideau, who admitted they were present during the shootout, were tried and acquitted of the murders of the FBI agents on the grounds of self-defense after they provided ample testimony to the atmosphere of terror that existed on the reservation.

It was after their acquittals, said Amnesty in an appeal to President Bill Clinton in 1999 for a pardon, that “the government intensified its pursuit of Leonard Peltier.”

Peltier has continued to speak out in support of Native peoples’ rights. He has won international acclaim and support for his tireless activism on behalf of human rights for Indigenous peoples. He is also an internationally acclaimed writer and artist. In 2004, Peltier ran for U.S. president on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket.

There are only a few days left to act. Letters supporting Peltier’s parole effort should be addressed to the U.S. Parole Commission, 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7286. Your letter must reference Peltier’s prison number, 20815-7286.

Free Leonard Peltier!