A caravan full of activists and organizers worked its way through downtown Rapid City on Thursday calling for Leonard Peltier’s release from federal prison.
Peltier has spent nearly 5 decades behind bars. A US Parole board is set to decide on Peltier’s release in the coming days.
Over two dozen vehicles drove from Woyatan Lutheran Church to the federal courthouse in downtown Rapid City on a hot summer day. The caravan’s message is simple, release Leonard Peltier.
Peltier is serving two life sentences for an incident that turned into a shootout between American Indian Movement members and FBI agents near the Pine Ridge Reservation town of Oglala. The incident resulted in the death of the two FBI agents.
Peltier supporters call him America’s preeminent political prisoner.
Jean Roach was there that day in 1975. She said Peltier’s case is emblematic of more than the incident.
“The whole story doesn’t start with Leonard Peltier,” Roach said. “It starts with first contact. Leonard Peltier is an example — they’re making him an example of what can happen or what is happening. Until they let Leonard Peltier free there’s not going to be no good faith effort between us and the United State’s government.”
Peltier had a hearing before the US Parole commission earlier this month. The board is expected to decide on Peltier’s release starting in early July.
In his letter to the parole commission, FBI Director Christopher Wray called Peltier a “ruthless murderer.”
Supporters say Peltier’s health is failing. He has type-2 diabetes and is losing his eyesight.
Nick Tilsen, President and CEO of NDN Collective, said Peltier is not receiving proper medical care.
“He gets really disoriented because part of what connected him to the outside world was writing letters. This is a message, too. If anyone wants to send him letters, it’s got to come in about 22-point font for him to be able to read it," Tilsen said. "He’s strong in the sense that he’s still has that fight in him to fight for his freedom and fight for the people. But his health is deteriorating.”
Tilsen was one of two individuals allowed to testify in favor of Peltier’s release earlier this month. If Peltier is not granted parole, Tilsen said they’ll start a clemency push from President Biden.
