INDIGENOUS AMERICAN’S LAST SHOT AT FREEDOM AFTER 50 YEARS IN JAIL

An indigenous US activist imprisoned for nearly 50 years has one last shot at freedom.

Leonard Peltier has always maintained his innocence over the killing of two FBI agents in 1975. He was found guilty of aiding and abetting, even though two men charged with the murder were acquitted on the basis of self-defence.

Peltier’s parole hearing, on June 10th, is widely seen as the 79-year-old’s last chance for release. He now waits anxiously for a decision that’ll be made by July 1st, after previous bids for freedom failed. A parole hearing in 2009 was rejected, as was a plea for clemency to President Barack Obama.

It’s a case that’s sparked widespread outrage, with human rights groups, Congress members, Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama among those calling for his release. There are claims affidavits were falsified for the trial and government prosecutors withheld critical evidence that would’ve been favourable to Peltier.

His lawyer, Moira “Mo” Meltzer-Cohen, said Peltier had always maintained his innocence ‘despite him knowing that a throated admission of guilt would very likely spell freedom for him.’

This Tiktok post by indigenous content creator, Che Jim, sums up the grave sense of injustice.

Video credits: Che.Jim