The case of a Lakota/Anishinabe man, Leonard Peltier, is an embarrassing display of racial injustice in America. As we are promoting human rights and democracy around the world, this Native man has been falsely imprisoned since 1974. To add insult to the injured justice system, the Peltier case is used by perpetrating countries to justify their own civil rights violations. If the “Freest Nation in the World” will wrongly incarcerate a man for over 30 years, then many other “less free” nations will be compelled to do worse.

I have heard about Leonard Peltier many times growing up. He has now become something of a Mandela figure to Indigenous peoples around the world. His story began on the Pine Ridge reservation during the tumultuous 1970’s civil rights upheaval. The “Goon Squad” (corrupt tribal officials and their crew) was running the rez by using violence against "the traditionalists," akin to inner city gangs or the mafia in big cities. The Goons were in alliance with and given benefits by energy companies to exploit Lakota lands in South Dakota. Any Indian person who spoke out against the corruption needed to fear for his or her safety. In short, Leonard Peltier was one of the objectors. He was and continues to be a warrior for the protection of his people and their lands.

Peltier’s legal woes began with a infamous shoot out on tribal lands in which the American Indian Movement (AIM) was involved. To quote Peltier, "two FBI agents were killed and one Indian was murdered." The FBI used illegal tactics and provided false evidence that was used to arrest and convict Peltier. Furthermore, even Judge Heaney, who at one point denied Peltier a new trial, has reconsidered after viewing the full evidence: " The FBI used improper tactics to convict Mr. Peltier…(and) was equally responsible for the shoot-out…” Numerous United States presidents have pledged to pardon Peltier when campaigning in Indian Territory. All have declined, under pressure from the FBI, when given the power to follow their commitment. Thus, Native people feel that the cycle of oppression has been continuous for hundreds of years. This case alone will silence anyone who dares claim “all that stuff against Indians is in the past… can’t you just get over it?”

Native Americans are not alone in their outrage over the illegal imprisonment Peltier. The following people/groups around the world have implored the U.S. to pardon Leonard Peltier: The late Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, Amnesty International, International Indian Treaty Council, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Coretta Scott King, Mikhail Gorbachev, Gloria Steinem, Wilma Mankiller, Robert Redford, and the European Parliament.

I want to abruptly end this post here so that you may spend any remaining time watching this unbelievable video dedicated to this brave, modern-day warrior. You will be affected.