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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMr. President: While commuting the 46 drug sentences, you might have also freed Leonard Peltier
Obama hasnt issued many pardons during his time in the White House. But his recent actions have left one group with renewed hope that the president will free one of their own, a man they call a political prisoner.
In 1975, during a confrontation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota, two FBI agents were shot and killed.
Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist and member of the American Indian Movement, was arrested for the shootings despite providing alibis.
Read more: http://bluenationreview.com/the-native-american-man-obama-should-absolutely-pardon-from-prison/#ixzz3gak87hnP
The continued use of racist mascots is something that we can never accept as Indigenous peoples and we need to all continue to push to end that racist practice.
Time is something I have learned a lot about in these years in prison. And now I can see that time is slipping away from me and I know that if I do not get out under this President I will almost certainly die here in prison.
I have been able to survive with the hope you have given to me and your prayers and I am grateful for that support from all of you.
...
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.
Doksha,
Leonard Peltier
http://www.workers.org/articles/2015/07/01/fortieth-anniversary-of-oglala-incident-free-leonard-peltier/
Madiba is Nelson Mandelas clan name, so taken from an 18th century Thembu chief. Mandela understood the complex Indigenous and colonial dynamics at play in the Peltier case. He knew that Leonard should be freed, and said so.
President Obama, photo ops and handshaking at the White House Tribal Nations Conference is a nice gesture of solidarity, but for true healing and reconciliation to begin, we must acknowledge our painful history and set about fixing those injustices.
Like Malcolm X said, You dont stick a knife in a mans back nine inches and then pull it out six inches and say youre making progress
Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/12/08/mr-president-honor-nelson-mandelas-wishes-and-free-leonard-peltier
2naSalit
(86,775 posts)doxyluv13
(247 posts)The problem is actually mentioned in your first quote where it says Peliter provided "alibis" and he did. Unfortunately, he's given at least 3 different, conflicting alibis over the years.
Freelancer
(2,107 posts)Thanks for posting this. Maybe I'll write one last time.
markmyword
(180 posts)Why hasn't Obama commuted the sentence of Don Siegelman the ex-governor of Alabama?
Siegelman was railroaded by Karl Rove, his Republican operative Bill Canary and his wife Leura Canary a prosecutor in the U.S. District Attorneys office.
Prosecutors Republican AND Democrat across the country wrote a letter on Siegelman's behalf saying this was a miscarriage of justice and that he should be released.
Obama has yet to FREE an innocent man, convicted solely for political reasons.
If anyone should be in jail, it's Karl Rove the the Canary'sfor being the criminals that they are!
Just a stroke of the pen.
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)but it never came about. I remember the fully armed FBI agents who staged a march in Washington to try to convince the White House to not release him. The case against Pelletier was never convincing and he shouldn't have been locked up to begin with.