November 29, 2024
It's Native American Heritage Day 2024. Native American activist Leonard Peltier is now eighty years old, in poor health, and has been in prison for almost fifty years. If you don't know who Leonard Peltier is or the significance of his struggle, below you can watch Stevie Van Zandt's 1989 music-video for his song "Leonard Peltier" - recorded and released as Little Steven - which distills the basic facts and history surrounding Peltier's unjust conviction. You also can click here to read our July 4, 2024 report on Peltier's most recent unsuccessful hearing before the U.S. Parole Board.
The Free Leonard Peltier campaign is encouraging its supporters to contact The White House NOW and urge President Biden to grant clemency to Peltier before Biden leaves office in January, ensuring that Peltier finally can leave behind his imprisonment for a murder he did not commit, and spend the latter part of his life at home with his loved ones. Click here for more information and other ways that you can support the campaign, as well. [IMPORTANT NOTE/UPDATE: The "comments@whitehouse.gov" email address provided in the campaign's information is currently a non-functioning address. Use this link to contact President Biden online instead: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ Please also note that this campaign is very much an international effort, so non-U.S.-citizens are welcomed and encouraged to get involved, too.]
"I am not intending to give up. And I'm hoping none of you give up."
-Leonard Peltier, following the July 2, 2024 U.S. Parole Board denial