about Leonard Peltier

 

Leonard Peltier is a Native American activist and member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe who was born on September 12, 1944, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Peltier's parents separated when he was young, and he spent much of his childhood on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. At the age of nine, he was taken away from his family and sent to the Wahpeton Indian School, a federally-run boarding school where he was subjected to physical and emotional abuse.

As a teenager, Peltier left the boarding school and began working as a ranch hand and laborer in various parts of the country. In 1968, he joined the American Indian Movement (AIM), a civil rights organization dedicated to promoting the rights of Native Americans. Peltier became active in AIM's efforts to reclaim land and resources that had been taken from Indigenous people and to address the widespread poverty, discrimination, and police brutality faced by Native Americans.

In the early 1970s, Peltier participated in several high-profile protests and occupations, including the 1972 occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building in Washington, D.C. In 1973, he was present at the occupation of Wounded Knee, a site of historic significance where members of AIM and their supporters protested the government's failure to honor treaties and address the needs of Indigenous people.

In 1975, Peltier was involved in a shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota that left two FBI agents dead. Peltier was later arrested and charged with their murders. He was extradited to the United States from Canada, where he had fled in an attempt to avoid prosecution. The case against Peltier was controversial, and many activists and human rights advocates argued that he had been unfairly targeted and that there were serious flaws in the prosecution's case.

Despite these concerns, Peltier was convicted of the murders and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. He has always maintained his innocence and has become a symbol of resistance and perseverance for many Native American activists and supporters.

Peltier has spent much of the past 46 years in maximum-security prisons, including Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and the United States Penitentiary, Coleman II in Florida. He has experienced significant health problems, including a heart condition and diabetes, and has also suffered from COVID-19. Peltier has been denied parole multiple times and is not eligible for another hearing until 2024.

Throughout his time in prison, Peltier has continued to advocate for Indigenous rights and to draw attention to the ongoing struggles faced by Native Americans. He has also been a prolific artist and writer, using his talents to express his political views and to document his experiences in prison.

Peltier's case has drawn international attention, and he has received support from a wide range of individuals and organizations, including Amnesty International, the United Nations, and many prominent public figures. In recent years, there has been a growing movement calling for his release, citing concerns about the fairness of his trial and his deteriorating health. Despite these efforts, Peltier remains behind bars, and his supporters continue to fight for justice and freedom.

 

 

 

Leonard Peltier was born on September 12, 1944, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. He is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe and of Lakota and Dakota descent. Here is a brief biography of Leonard Peltier, with events listed chronologically:

1. 1953: At the age of nine, Peltier is sent to the Wahpeton Indian School, a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) boarding school in North Dakota, where he experiences physical and sexual abuse.
2. 1965: Peltier moves to Seattle, Washington, and begins to work as a mechanic.
3. 1968: Peltier becomes involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM), an Indigenous civil rights movement founded in Minneapolis.
4. 1972: AIM members and supporters, including Peltier, participate in the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters in Washington, DC.
5. 1973: Peltier joins AIM's Wounded Knee occupation, a 71-day siege of the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which is home to the Oglala Lakota Nation.
6. June 26, 1975: Two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, are killed during a shootout on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Peltier is accused of their murders.
7. 1976: Peltier is arrested in Canada and extradited to the US to stand trial.
8. 1977: Peltier is convicted of the murder of the two FBI agents and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
9. 1985: Peltier's first parole hearing is held, but he is denied parole.
10. 1991: A federal appeals court denies Peltier's request for a new trial.
11. 1993: Peltier is denied parole for the second time.
12. 1999: Peltier's third parole hearing is held, but he is denied parole again.
13. 2001: Peltier's attorneys file a new appeal, citing new evidence and witness testimony.
14. 2003: Peltier is denied parole for the fourth time.
15. 2009: Peltier's attorneys file another appeal, arguing that the government withheld evidence that could have helped Peltier's defense.
16. 2016: Peltier's attorneys file a clemency petition with President Barack Obama.
17. 2017: Obama denies Peltier's clemency petition before leaving office.
18. 2021: Peltier's attorney files a new application for executive clemency with President Joe Biden. Peltier marks his 46th year in prison.

Despite serious concerns about the fairness of his trial and conviction, Peltier remains in prison to this day, serving two consecutive life sentences.