Leonard Peltier Biography

Leonard Peltier, Activist

Occup.	Activist
From	Ojibwe
Born	September 12, 1944 Belcourt, North Dakota, USA
Age	79 years

Early Life and Background
Leonard Peltier was born upon September 12, 1944, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States. He was raised on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in North Dakota by his Ojibwe moms and dads, a native tribe also called the Chippewa. Peltier's youth was marked by poverty and tough living conditions. He dropped out of school in the ninth grade and started working to assist support his family.

Political Activism and the American Indian Movement (AIM)
In the late 1960s, Peltier ended up being associated with political advocacy, promoting for the rights of Native Americans. He soon signed up with the American Indian Movement (AIM), which was established in 1968 by George Mitchell, Dennis Banks, and Clyde Bellecourt. Goal looked for to safeguard the rights of Native Americans, challenge government policies, and fight against injustice and racism dealt with by indigenous communities.

Throughout Peltier's time with AIM, he took part in various demonstrations and presentations, consisting of the 1972 "Trail of Broken Treaties", a cross-country protest caravan that aimed to resolve treaty-related complaints. The demonstration culminated in a six-day occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in Washington, D.C., where Peltier and other AIM members issued a 20-point proposition to the United States government.

The Pine Ridge Reservation Conflict
In 1973, the Wounded Knee Incident happened, in which AIM members and Oglala Lakota people inhabited the town of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, protesting versus corrupt tribal leadership, treaty violations, and federal government injustice. The 71-day standoff in between activists and police led to numerous fatalities and many injuries. Peltier was not present at Wounded Knee, but he became more deeply included with AIM as an outcome of the incident.

In 1975, stress in between AIM members and political challengers on the Pine Ridge Reservation had actually escalated, triggering Peltier, Dennis Banks, and other AIM activists to support Oglala Lakota families fearing for their security. On June 26, 1975, a shootout at the Jumping Bull Compound on the booking left two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, in addition to a native guy, Joseph Stuntz, dead.

Arrest, Trial, and Imprisonment
Following the shootout, Peltier, together with Dino Butler and Bob Robideau, were prosecuted on charges of killing the two FBI representatives. Butler and Robideau were later on acquitted, but Peltier ran away to Canada. He was collared in 1976 and extradited to the U.S. under controversial scenarios, including a presumably persuaded affidavit from a crucial witness, Myrtle Poor Bear.

Peltier's trial happened in 1977 and he was eventually condemned of first-degree murder and sentenced to 2 consecutive life terms in prison. Peltier and his legal team consistently kept his innocence, arguing that the evidence versus him was made and his trial was marked by legal misconduct and prosecutorial browbeating of witnesses.

Clemency Campaigns and Support
Throughout Peltier's incarceration, he has received considerable assistance from activists, celebs, and human rights companies worldwide, who believe he is a political prisoner wrongfully founded guilty. Numerous projects and petitions have required clemency and a brand-new trial for Peltier. In 2000, President Bill Clinton thought about giving clemency however eventually did not. In 2016, Peltier sent a clemency application to President Barack Obama, however it was rejected in January 2017.

In addition to the clemency campaigns, Peltier has acquired support from prominent figures such as Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Amnesty International, who have promoted for his release.

Art, Writing, and Legacy
Despite his long imprisonment, Peltier has stayed active as an artist, an author, and an advocate for native rights. He has actually written an autobiography titled "Prisoner of Conscience: My Life as a Political Prisoner" and has likewise end up being a notable painter, with his artwork showing traditional Native American themes as well as signs of his struggle for justice.

Leonard Peltier's case remains a highly questionable and emblematic example of the continuous fight for native rights and civil liberties in the United States.

Our collection contains 6 quotes who is written / told by Leonard.

Related authors: Nelson Mandela (Statesman), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Dennis Banks (Educator), Barack Obama (President), Desmond Tutu (Leader)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was Leonard Peltier tribe?
A: Leonard Peltier is a member of the Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) tribe.
Q: What happened to Leonard Peltier?
A: Leonard Peltier was convicted of the murder of two FBI agents in 1977, and he is serving two consecutive life sentences in federal prison.
Q: Where is Leonard Peltier now?
A: Leonard Peltier is currently incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary in Coleman, Florida.
Q: Leonard Peltier pardon 2021
A: As of now, Leonard Peltier has not been granted a pardon in 2021.
Q: How old is Leonard Peltier?
A: He is 79 years old

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6 Famous quotes by Leonard Peltier

"The United States government can indict you on something, and now you've got to prove your innocence. And that's not the Constitution of the United States"

"What Bill Clinton did to us was cruel. The White House gave my attorneys indications that there was a good chance for my clemency to be granted. I had to prepare myself for being released because there was no sign that my petition would be denied"

"They still don't want to admit to the world that this isn't the best and the fairest and most equal justice system. And that they are guilty of railroading people into jail. They don't want to, or never will, admit these things"

"The FBI has always supported big business and big government"

"A political prisoner is someone who is out fighting for his or her people's rights and freedom and is imprisoned for that alone"

"In them days, it was just still not illegal to kill an Indian. If you killed an Indian, you'd be very unfortunate if you got probation - most of them were released immediately"