Leonard Peltier's 40th anniversary letter | World News |Axisoflogic.com

Free Leonard Peltier sign | Photo: Wikimedia

The International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (ILPDC) has released a letter by famed American Indian Movement leader Leonard Peltier, who was imprisoned on shaky charges by the U.S. government 40 years ago.

"On February 6th, I will have been imprisoned for 40 years! I'm 71 years old and still in a maximum security penitentiary. At my age, I'm not sure I have much time left," the Chippewa-Lakota activist wrote.

Peltier says that although his treatment in prison runs counter to rules and regulations, prison officials refuse to comply with directives.

"Check this out, I have been classified as a medium security prisoner now for at least 15 years, and Bureau Of Prisons regulations say elders shall be kept in a less dangerous facility/environment. But NOT if you're Leonard Peltier," he wrote.

Peltier also said that despite the fact his appeals for clemency were rejected by both previous Democratic and Republican presidents, he still hopes that current President Barack Obama will have “the courage and conviction” to commute his sentence.

"As president Obama completes the final year of his term, I hope that he will continue to fight to fulfill his promises, and further the progress his administration has made towards working in partnership with First Peoples. It gives me hope that this president has worked hard to affirm the trust relationship with the Tribal Nations. With YOUR encouragement, I believe Obama will have the courage and conviction to commute my sentence and send me home to my family," Peltier wrote before thanking his supporters for their donations to his defense committee.

Peter Clark the defense committee’s co-director in a press release sent to teleSUR English urged Peltier’s supporters to reach out to Obama encourage him to release the 71-year-old Native activist through phone, email or by comments on Obama’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“The ILPDC has seen an increase in public activity around Leonard’s case and are hopeful that there does seem to be momentum building.There is much more work to be done to show the White House the support for Leonard's release,” said Peter Clark the group’s co-director in a press release sent to teleSUR English.

“Generations who might have never heard of Leonard Peltier need to learn this important history. We know that the support for Peltier exists, and it must be fully demonstrated. It is crucial that we all organize and work in solidarity until President Obama leaves office -until Leonard Peltier is free!”

Peltier was a leading figure within the American Indian Movement (AIM) during its peak in political activity in the 1970's. Active in defense of his people's interests and lands from a young age, Peltier rose quickly to occupy a prominent role within the movement.

In 1975, responding to a request by local indigenous people from the Pine Ridge reservation, Peltier traveled to South Dakota. There he worked with the community helping provide security amidst political tensions and violence between rival groups on the reservation.

FBI officials, on a deliberate mission to weaken or destroy leftist organizations, believed that AIM activists were conspiring at Pine Ridge.

And on June 26, 1975 a massive shootout erupted, which included participants from AIM, the FBI, and paramilitaries hired by the tribal chairman who was opposed to AIM.

When the bullets stopped, two FBI agents and one indigenous man by the name of Joseph Stuntz were dead.

Despite the participation of dozens of people, only AIM members Bob Robideau, Darrell Butler, and Leonard Peltier were brought up on charges related to the deaths of the FBI officials. Robideau and Butler were arrested and charged but ultimately acquitted. But the court case that eventually convicted Peltier was littered with inconsistencies along with accusations of political bias, leading numerous human rights organizations including amnesty international to question the fairness and accuracy of the legal campaign against the Native American activist.

Peltier is now 71-years-old and is not eligible for another parole hearing until 2024. This is why his supporters, who include many notable figures and celebrities, have called for U.S. authorities to release him on humanitarian grounds. Other have specifically called on President Obama to commute Peltier's sentence before the end of his term.

Peltier’s final words in the letter reflect the sentiment felt by his supporters that his case is politically meaningful for Native peoples in the United States.

"I believe that my incarceration, the constitutional violations in my case, and the government misconduct in prosecuting my case are issues far more important than just my life or freedom. I feel that each of you who have fought for my freedom have been a part of the greater struggle of Native Peoples - for Treaty rights, sovereignty, and our very survival. If I should be called home, please don't give up the struggle."

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