Leonard Peltier Remembered on Monday

Voice of America
06 Feb 2023, 23:05 GMT+10

February 6 is the Global Day of Solidarity with Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who has been imprisoned for almost five decades.

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said in a statement that "people around the world are calling on President Biden to finally grant Leonard clemency." She said February 6 "marks the beginning of Leonard's 48th year of incarceration."

Peltier, who is 78, has been repeatedly denied parole.

He was a leader in the American Indian Movement when he was arrested, following a shoot out on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota in 1975 in which two FBI agents were killed.

There were several inconsistencies in his case, but he was found guilty and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

FILE - This is a 1992 photo of Indian activist Leonard Peltier, taken at the Federal Prison at Leavenworth, Kansas. Courtesy: International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee

Before his court case began, he fled the country, fearing that he would not receive a fair trial, but he was found in Canada.

Two other men facing the same charges as Peltier were found not guilty.

"Amnesty International has long maintained that there are serious concerns about the fairness of proceedings leading to his trial and conviction," Guevara-Rosas said in a statement.

"As President Biden prepares to address the public on Tuesday at the State of the Union Address," she said, "we urge the administration to uphold their commitment to human rights and grant Leonard Peltier clemency on humanitarian grounds and as a matter of justice."

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Salt Lake City Sun.

More Information

36 ℉

Mostly Cloudy in Salt Lake City

Business

Section

Tottering Virgin space business receives $200 million from investor

LONDON, England: Reuters has reported that struggling Virgin Orbit, owned by billionaire Richard Branson, is nearing a $200-million investment deal ...