Next week, on June 10, Anishinaabe-Lakota elder Leonard Peltier has a scheduled parole hearing — his first since July 28, 2009, nearly 15 years ago. Several months ago, Leonard said that he hopes he makes it to this hearing. He’s 79, he’s been incarcerated since 1976 — almost a half-century — and his health continues to decline. 

This means that right now, it’s time to act! Please stand with Leonard, the American Indian Movement, Lakota Law, NDN Collective, and Indigenous People everywhere. Tell the U.S. Parole Commission to let Leonard spend his final days at home, in Bellecourt, North Dakota. As you’ll see on the page, you can send a letter directly to the board, and you can also text a message of solidarity.

Please click above to write the parole board today!

Leonard was a leading member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) during a critical time in our history. In the 1970s, many Indian people began expressing pride in their identity. Then the “Reign of Terror” swept over the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, resulting in the unsolved murders of dozens of Oglala Lakota people and the siege of Wounded Knee by federal agents. In this environment, elders asked AIM for additional security assistance, and Leonard answered the call to help protect Oglala Lakota elders, women, and children. 

In 1975, this led to another stand-off, a shooting incident during a violent and unwarranted FBI raid which resulted in the deaths of FBI Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams. Leonard was subsequently charged with nonsensical crimes, such as aiding and abetting “murderers” who even the day’s biased courts determined to have acted in self-defense. But the government needed a Native scapegoat, so Leonard was eventually falsely convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. 

We’ve been by Leonard’s side ever since. Since 1977, we’ve demanded his freedom. Evidence that exonerates him includes documents, proven to be illegal, used to secure his extradition from Canada, recanted witness testimony, and the court’s decision to exclude ballistics and other evidence surrounding the shooting, all of which prejudiced the process and prevented a fair trial.

The U.S. Parole Commission has held a number of hearings on Leonard’s case over the years, but it has always denied his parole on the grounds that he won’t accept criminal responsibility for killing Coler and Williams — murders he simply did not commit. That’s why it’s so important that we stand with Leonard, right now. It is now well beyond time for our elder to come home. 

Chi-miigwetch, 
Lisa Bellanger
Co-Director 
American Indian Movement Grand Governing Council
Leech Lake Ojibwe
Via the Lakota People’s Law Project

P.S. Please help flood the parole board with messages of support for Leonard. This is likely the last hearing he’ll have. Our treasured relative deserves to live out his remaining days free, happy, and vindicated. Recently, Leonard’s request for compassionate release was denied, leaving this as possibly his last, best chance of getting released. His team is planning his defense for the parole hearing next week, and in the meantime, he needs your support!