Leonard Peltier (1944- ), a Chippewa (Anishinaabe) of the American Indian Movement (AIM), is a world-famous political prisoner in the US. He was found guilty of killing two FBI agents in 1975, but, as a US circuit court later found, the evidence was faked!
He has been in prison since 1977, six years of it in solitary confinement. The FBI and the Department of Justice have blocked any chance at parole. His daughter said President Bill Clinton came close to pardoning him, but backed off after protests by the FBI.
Now 72 and in failing health, a pardon from President Obama before he leaves office on January 20th 2017 is his last best hope of not dying in prison.
As Professor James Anaya, former United Nations Rapporteur for Indigenous Rights, told President Obama in 2015:
“if Leonard Peltier dies in jail, then he will likely die a martyr and the relationships and progress that you and your Administration have worked so hard to forge likely will be dealt a significant set-back … I respectfully submit that the time has come for the significant interests of law enforcement to yield to the significant interests of fundamental fairness and reconciliation and healing with America’s first peoples”
Seven of Obama’s fellow Nobel Peace Prize winners also think he should be freed.
The FBI in the late 1960s and early 1970s sought to undermine protest movements, like the Black Panthers and AIM. Leaders were killed, co-opted, thrown in prison or driven into exile, people like Fred Hampton and Assata Shakur.
The Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota became the flashpoint between the FBI and AIM. Under reservation president Dick Wilson there was a Reign of Terror in which 60 people were murdered. The FBI backed Wilson with weapons, intelligence and looking the other way (except for the murder of Anna Mae Aquash, presumably an FBI informant). In 1973 there was a 71-day armed stand-off betweem AIM and the FBI at Wounded Knee (also the scene of the 1890 massacre).
On June 26th 1975, a day and 99 years after Custer’s Last Stand, two FBI special agents, Jack Coler and Ron Williams, were chasing a red pickup – much like the one Peltier was known to drive. They said they were investigating the theft of a pair of cowboy boots. It led to a shoot-out, killing both agents. Soon over 100 FBI agents, US Marshals, state troopers, etc, arrived. There was more shooting, killing one Native, Joe Stuntz.
Some fled into the hills. Peltier made it all the way to Canada!
Four were charged in the murder of the FBI agents, Peltier among them. None were charged in the murder of Joe Stuntz.
Trial: Canada turned Peltier over. The other three got off. In Peltier’s trial, which came later, the evidence was faked, so he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, sentenced to two life terms in prison.
When it came out that the FBI faked its evidence, having no idea who killed the agents, Peltier’s charge was changed to “aiding and abetting”, but he was not retried!
– Abagond, 2016.
Update (January 19th 2017): President Obama will NOT be pardoning Leonard Peltier.
See also:
- Welcome to Native American Heritage Month 2016
- FBI: Cointelpro
- Phantom Caucasian Justice
- Assata Shakur
- Fred Hampton
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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“but, as a US circuit court later found, the evidence was faked!”
Why did the circuit court not free this man?
It would help if he would be pardoned and it serves no useful purpose keeping him in jail.
Sentences in this nation seem to be too long anyways and it cost money to keep people locked up.
After the “Comey Affair” the FBI needs a review. Not the every day working people the political top.
Do you remember J. Edgar Hoover?
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Reblogged this on League of Bloggers For a Better World.
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He was found guilty of killing two FBI agents in 1975, but, as a US circuit court later found, the evidence was faked!
This is nothing short of Inverted totalitarianism; no country can do it better than Amerika!
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Miscarriage of justice.
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@Mary
Hey!! How are you doing?
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@sharinalr: Good and how are you?
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You have to look at both sides of the story.
“The motherfu—er was begging for his life but I shot him anyway.”—Leonard Peltier bragging about his execution-murder of the critically-wounded FBI Agent Ron Williams, according to the court testimony of Darlene P. Nichols, the former Ka-Mook Banks
http://legendofpineridge.blogspot.com/2009/07/aim-myth-busters-ten-reasons-why.html
Overall I think some of these reservations have poor conditions with a lack of economic connection to the outside world to help their situation. The two other 1st Nation activists were pardoned on this behalf. I’ve heard of terrible stories in the MidWest to North (Canada) concerning 1st nation tribes. Their Youth adopting Neo-Nazi culture and hating on other people of color. I’ve brushed up and experienced it as well. A confused mixed race people that lean more towards white supremacy. Travelers beware.
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@Mary Burrell
Pretty good. Waiting for this semester to end.
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From what I read, the circuit court did not overturn the original conviction and denied Peltier a new trial. The only evidence that I can find about the charges being changed is in a Democracy Now interview with Peltier.
https://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/19/exclusive_leonard_peltier_speaks_out_from
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“When it came out that the FBI faked its evidence, having no idea who killed the agents, Peltier’s charge was changed to “aiding and abetting”, but he was not retried!”
SMH. The FBI, like any other American institution, is corrupted enough to make sure political prisoners stay imprisoned by any and all means. It wants to make examples of those having the guts to stand up to a diabolically oppressive system.
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I’m confused. Evidence was falsified but was he actually guilty or innocent or does no one actually know?
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@Zoe Jordan
I’ve scoured the internet and everything seems contrived. I feel for this guy and his family. Including his friend that was killed with no consequences.
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@TeddyBearDaddy
Thanks.
It’s f*****g outrageous. The worst part of all, 6 years in solitary confinement! That’s not even punishment its torture.
Does America have no human rights act.
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@Mirky
When I was a kid I thought America was the golden land – Hahahahahaha! (Funny not)
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@Zoe Jordan
If an inmate commits a heinous crime like violent attack or kill a guard or inmate they can be placed in solitary confinement as disciplinary punishment. We don’t know the whole story only conjectures….
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I’ve been following Leonard since I was a kid and still follow him today. It’s aahame how he is being done. Leonard is innocent and should be released from prison.
Recently, Jamil al Amin was pardoned because of failing health. If Obama could do it for him, I don’t see why he can’t do it for Leonard. He too,is in poor health,old age and mostly, staying in prison for a crime that he most likely didn’t commit. Leonard isn’t optimistic that he’ll be released .The way he’s being treated..I get why.
I pray that Leonard’s New Year will consist of him being released from prison.
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Political prisoner?
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@ Zoe Jordan
@ villagewriter
Right, because the evidence against him is so weak yet the FBI is so determined to keep him in prison. When it looked like Bill Clinton was going to pardon of him, hundreds of FBI agents held a protest in front of the White House.
The FBI, according to Peltier, is afraid that if he is freed he will make trouble. That seems likely since they oppose even parole for him. He says he just wants to go back home and spend his last years with his family – and get some good medical care, which he is not getting in prison.
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With President Obama leaving office he at least should have tried to get this man a pardon.
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Update: President Obama will NOT be pardoning Leonard Peltier.
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