“I am finally free! They may have imprisoned me, but they never broke my spirit.” The poignant words of Leonard Peltier, the longest held Indigenous political prisoner, echoed across news outlets on Feb. 18, the date of his release after nearly 50 years of illegal, wrongful incarceration. Leonard was released that morning from federal prison in Florida.
He was promptly whisked by jet, arranged by the NDN Collective, to his home on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The NDN Collective hosted a celebratory event and community feed on Feb. 19 for Leonard. The event was live-streamed on NDN’s Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn accounts.
The NDN Collective and its allies have engaged in five decades of advocacy for Leonard’s freedom. It is an Indigenous-led organization devoted to advocating for Indigenous power via organizing and activism.
Leonard’s struggle had wound its way through seven presidents, numerous court appeals, and unceasing activism on the part of a global effort from a host of leaders and rank and file supporters. Biden granting of clemency on Jan. 20, while belated, was nonetheless breathtaking.
As an activist with the American Indian Movement (AIM), Leonard struggled unceasingly for Indigenous rights and was subsequently railroaded in a kangaroo court conviction for the deaths of two FBI agents in June 1975 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. His conviction was a disgrace to American jurisprudence, with an abundance of federal prosecutorial misconduct that was countenanced by the judicial system.
For decades, activists buttressed by the advocacy of political, religious, and legal luminaries worldwide and prominent members of the U.S. Congress have been demanding his release, contending that he was wrongfully prosecuted and sentenced.
As an attorney, I can say that even a cursory examination of Leonard’s case more than amply indicates he should not have served a day behind bars, with 49 years being an unspeakable travesty of justice.
Celebrations of Leonard’s release are ramping up throughout the country. The Indigenous Peoples Coalition held a celebratory event in Nashville on Saturday, Feb. 22, and more are surely following in several other places.
This marks a milestone in Indigenous history. Another moral to be garnered from this struggle is that no matter how bleak the circumstances, never, never give up.
This victory represents the power of the people!
As with all op-ed articles published by People’s World, the views reflected are those of the author.
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