Leonard Peltier was part of a movement that helped bring back some dignity to Indian people. It helped push policies and laws that made their lives a little bit easier and better. And in the process he suffered a familiar fate. One of discrimination. One of poverty. One of brutality and injustice at the hands of our legal system. This is something that all Indians understand and have seen. We are no different in this context. We all live with the same societal conflict. It may not be our only story, but it is a story that we share.
I don't know where people come down on this issue. Is he guilty or not? Should he be free or not? But the fact is, none of us were there that day in 1975. The Pine Ridge generation who lived in that time of tumult, chaos, and danger has long since gone old and gray. Not a whole lot are even around anymore. But we do know there are injustices. And that in this case there are some serious questions and discrepancies. We also know that Leonard Peltier is now an old man. He's in ill health and doesn't have much time in this ever shrinking map of ours.
In July 2024, the U.S. Parole Commission denied parole for Leonard Peltier on humanitarian grounds.
As of now, President Joe Biden still has time before the end of his term to pardon Peltier.
50 years has been more than enough. For someone who helped bring a measure of dignity to his people, let's give him some in return. Our country has a cruel, bleak heritage when it comes to the dignity of indigenous people. This time it can be different. It can be merciful.
Jesus says in The Beatitudes: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Let us all have mercy in us and receive it ourselves in the time that we need it most. For the sake of his family, friends and loved ones, let's all urge President Biden to show mercy and grant Leonard Peltier clemency and a peaceful return to the home and people that he loves.
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