SUMTERVILLE, Fla. (AP) — On Tuesday morning, Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a Florida prison following President Joe Biden’s commutation of his life sentence for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. This decision brought joy to Peltier’s supporters while provoking criticism from law enforcement officials who hold firm in their belief of his guilt. Peltier’s incarceration for almost fifty years has stood as a symbol of systemic injustice for Native Americans who champion his innocence. The 80-year-old’s transition to home confinement was met with celebration by those who have long advocated for his release.
Nick Estes, a professor at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, expressed that Peltier embodies the suffering of individuals who have faced mistreatment by authorities. However, the eleventh-hour action by Biden as he exited office drew disapproval from detractors who maintain Peltier’s culpability, including former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who branded him a “remorseless killer” in a letter to Biden.
The commutation did not absolve Peltier of his crimes, a long-held desire of his supporters given his steadfast assertion of innocence. A crowd of well-wishers congregated outside the Coleman federal prison in anticipation of Peltier’s release, with his attorney, Jenipher Jones, expressing Peltier’s eagerness to return home.
Following his departure from USP Coleman, a maximum-security facility, Peltier intended to head back to North Dakota, where a gathering with loved ones was scheduled for the next day. Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence on January 20, citing his advanced age and declining health as factors in the decision.
Ray St. Clair, a member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, underscored the significance of Peltier’s release, emphasizing the importance of maintaining hope and rectifying past injustices. Peltier, affiliated with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota, had been actively involved in the American Indian Movement, fighting for Native American rights and sovereignty since the 1960s.
The commotion surrounding Peltier’s case began in 1975 on the Oglala Sioux Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, where FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were fatally shot during a confrontation. Prosecutors alleged that Peltier was responsible for the agents’ deaths, claiming he shot them at close range. Peltier admitted to being present during the incident and firing a gun.
Leonard Peltier was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and received two consecutive life sentences, although he maintained that he had fired in self-defense at a distance. A crucial witness who had claimed to see Peltier shoot the agents later recanted her testimony, stating that it had been coerced. Peltier’s co-defendants, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted on the basis of self-defense.
Peltier’s parole requests have been denied, with the most recent denial in July, and he is not eligible for consideration again until 2026. Amnesty International USA’s Executive Director, Paul O’Brien, emphasized the need for Peltier’s release, citing ongoing human rights concerns surrounding the fairness of his trial, his nearly five decades of incarceration, his health, and his age. O’Brien also stressed that while Peltier’s release from prison was welcomed, he should not be restricted to home confinement.
Numerous Native American groups, including the National Congress of the American Indian, have long advocated for Peltier’s release, viewing him as a political prisoner. Notable figures such as South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, civil rights advocate Coretta Scott King, actor and director Robert Redford, and musicians Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte, and Jackson Browne have voiced their support for Peltier.
Over the years, Indigenous activists and leaders have urged multiple presidents to pardon Peltier. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to hold the position, praised President Biden’s decision to release Peltier, expressing gratitude that he could finally reunite with his family.
Peltier’s childhood was marked by separation from his family and forced attendance at a boarding school, a fate shared by thousands of Indigenous children who often experienced systemic physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Nick Tilsen, CEO of NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group, highlighted Peltier’s excitement to be back home after decades of displacement, eager to paint and enjoy the presence of his grandchildren.
