Today marks imprisioned native american Leonard peltier's 62nd birthday. He has spent 30 plus years in jail for allegedly murdering 2 FBI agents. He denies it, and has become one of the most recognizable prisoners in the world. He is to many a symbol of the injustice apparent in the judicial system. People who think he is innocent or at least think he deserves a fair trial include, Bono, Ben harper, Rage Against the machine, Nelson mandela, Amnesty International, Dalai lama, jesse Jackson, Johnny Depp, Winona Rider, Oliver Stone, Robert Redford, Indigo Girls, Toad and the wet Sprocket, Amy Goodman, etc... Supporters claim his trial was riddled with inconsistencies, and racism. Bill Clinton was asked to grant him clemency prior to leaving office, but refused. We all would do well to remember and honor Leonard Peltier today. To remember that we are not free as a society if Leonard is in jail. Its just not right. We would do well to understand the continuing persecution of Native Americans, and that in the eyes of many including peltier, the new reservations or at least the most populous ones for Natives are now prisons. Society has never percieved the Native American people as humans and the continuing persecution of Peltier only makes this glaringly obvious. We as a society must demand the immediate release of Leonard peltier. Its the very least we can do.
It's very sad that he has been forgotten. What hope do those imprisoned at Guatanamo and in secret prisons have when a native american has been sacrificed and forgotten for all these years, because the administration doesn't want to upset the FBI?
