Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist, has recently been released from a prison in Florida. This move, comes weeks after a decision by former President Joe Biden, which ruffled the feathers of various law enforcement professionals. The troublesome choice was to commute Peltier’s life sentence to home confinement for the 1975 slayings of two FBI agents. Peltier, interestingly, is never recorderd to have interacted with the media or the nearly two dozen supporters who allegedly gathered to celebrate his release.
At 80 years of age, Peltier re-joined his associates from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota. It’s at his reservation where his family and friends are poised to celebrate his surprising release, facilitated by Biden. During this celebration, he will be residing in a house provided by the tribe during his home confinement, which shows a level of community support that is bewildering to those aware of his controversial past.
In the face of his conviction, Peltier has continuously asserted his innocence. He claims that he did not slay FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation confrontation in South Dakota, an assertion that raises eyebrows considering the gravity of the charges. He has received widespread belief from Native Americans, who hold the stance that he was wrongly convicted for standing up for tribal rights as part of the American Indian Movement.
Biden chose not to pardon Peltier. Instead, he made the contentious decision to commute Peltier’s sentence to home confinement on January 20. Justifying this move, Biden noted that Peltier had spent most of his life behind bars and was in failing health. A stance that has exposed him to an avalanche of criticism from those who believe Peltier is guilty, throwing his judgment into question.
Among those voices opposing Biden’s questionable decision was former FBI Director Christopher Wray. Wray referred to Peltier simply as “a remorseless killer.” This statement harshly contrasts the sentiment expressed by one of Peltier’s lawyers, who claims Peltier was looking forward to returning home, naively referring to him as harboring ‘the soul of a warrior.’
Despite the professionalism of the law enforcement and grave nature of Peltier’s crimes, there were inexplicably some who celebrated his release, waving flags with slogans such as “Free Leonard Peltier.” Remarkably, there were individuals who traveled to Florida just to witness Peltier’s release from prison, exemplifying an audacious sense of optimism shared by his supporters.
Peltier was once a prominent figure within AIM, the American Indian Movement, an organization born in the 1960s, which fought for Native American treaty rights and tribal self-determination. The fact that his supporters continue to rally behind his cause despite his conviction for murder speaks volumes about the misguided direction of this movement.
Peltier’s conviction originated from a deeply troubling incident in 1975 at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, whereby two FBI agents lost their lives. According to official reports, the officers were there to action arrest warrants for robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon, fueling doubts around Peltier’s claims of innocence.
Prosecutors argued at trial that Peltier shockingly shot both law enforcement agents in the head at point-blank range. While Peltier admitted to being present and discharging a firearm, he alleged it was in self-defense and his bullets didn’t cause the fatalities. Given the severity of his sentence, it appears the courts didn’t quite agree.
Moreover, a witness, who supposedly saw Peltier commit the crime, retracted her testimony later, alleging coercion. However, Peltier was still found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and handed two consecutive life sentences, raising questions about the veracity of his and his supporter’s assertions.
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, generations of Indigenous activists and leaders lobbied various presidents to pardon Peltier. This unsettling display of advocacy for a convicted killer highlights a concerning disconnect between the interests of these Indigenous leaders and the cause of justice.
As a young boy, Peltier was removed from his family and sent to a boarding school. Despite the sobering history of systemic abuse faced by many Indigenous children over several decades in similar circumstances, this doesn’t negate his later choices or the actions he was convicted for.
Peltier’s release, facilitated by Joe Biden’s actions, is met with mixed reactions. For some, it is a cause for celebration. For many others deeply familiar with the case, this decision is not just questionable but outright infuriating. The fact that a convicted killer is now able to live in home confinement, surrounded by family is a discouraging testament to Biden’s judgment.
Given the multitude of more deserving causes and individuals, it’s hard to rationalize why Biden would choose to dedicate his political capital to a controversial figure like Peltier. Surely, his time and efforts could have been better spent advocating for less controversial and far more worthwhile causes.
In summary, Leonard Peltier is once more a free man—living out the rest of his days under home confinement—thanks to a perplexing decision by former president Joe Biden. Critics argue that Biden’s decision not only undermines the work of law enforcement but makes a mockery of the rule of law itself by commuting the sentence of a convicted double-murderer.
All in all, Biden’s legacy with the Indigenous community may be tarnished by his inexplicable decision to intervene in this case. His actions seemingly favor a convicted killer over the justice sought by the family, friends, and colleagues of the two fallen FBI agents, illuminating the stark contrast between his values and those of hardworking American law women and men.