Leonard Peltier Granted Executive Clemency!
Leonard Peltier Granted Executive Clemency!
Statement of Leonard Peltier Legal Team Regarding His Release by President Joe Biden
“But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Today, history was made. In one of his final acts before leaving office, President Joseph Biden granted clemency to Leonard Peltier, ending nearly five decades of incarceration. This extraordinary decision concludes a decades-long fight for justice led by Indigenous activists, international human rights leaders, legal advocates, and supporters from all walks of life who have long maintained that Mr. Peltier was wrongly convicted.
President Biden’s action comes after years of persistent advocacy, including letters signed by over 120 tribal elected leaders, Nobel laureates, and international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Peltier’s case has been a rallying cry for justice, mercy, and reconciliation across the globe, supported by figures ranging from Pope Francis to Robert Redford and the members of Rage Against the Machine.
In a statement, President Biden cited Peltier’s advanced age, declining health, strong leadership within the Native American community, and the substantial length of his imprisonment as key factors in his decision. “Tribal Nations, Nobel Peace laureates, former law enforcement officials (including the former U.S. Attorney whose office oversaw Mr. Peltier’s prosecution and appeal), dozens of lawmakers, and human rights organizations strongly support granting Mr. Peltier clemency, citing his advanced age, illnesses, his close ties to and leadership in the Native American community, and the substantial length of time he has already spent in prison,” Biden said.
A Legacy of Injustice Corrected
Leonard Peltier’s release closes a chapter marked by profound injustice. His conviction stemmed from the deaths of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during a 1975 standoff on Pine Ridge Reservation, a time of heightened tensions over Native civil and treaty rights. However, as former federal prosecutor James Reynolds, whose office led Peltier’s case, admitted in a 2021 letter to Biden, the government failed to prove that Peltier personally committed any crime.
Federal Judge Gerald Heaney, who ruled on Peltier’s appeal in 1986, also criticized the FBI’s tactics, stating they were improper in securing Peltier’s extradition and conducting the investigation. Over the years, bipartisan calls for clemency extended to multiple presidents, but Biden’s decision is the first to correct this grievous wrong.
Press Conference and Next Steps
Please join us for a special press conference on February 6, 2025, at 12 PM EST to commemorate this historic moment and outline our ongoing efforts to advance justice for Native communities and other marginalized groups.
Honoring the Fight and Moving Forward
While we celebrate Leonard Peltier’s long-overdue freedom, we remain committed to addressing the systemic inequities his case represents. From the Battle of Greasy Grass to the Battle of Adwa: no compromise, no retreat. Onward.
To everyone who stood by Leonard Peltier, thank you. This victory is a testament to the power of unity, resilience, and relentless advocacy. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we continue the fight for justice.
/s/ Leonard Peltier Legal Team
Leonard Peltier Legal Team
/s/ Official Leonard Peltier Ad Hoc Committee
Official Leonard Peltier Ad Hoc Committee
Our Committee is raising funds for expenses related to retaining independent medical experts, accommodations, travel, materials, and other expenditures related to Leonard's medical care.
Please contribute what you can. Share this fundraiser.
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