Activists seek the release of Leonard Peltier

Indian Country Today's daily newscast
On the Monday edition of the ICT Newscast, a Washington rally called for the release of Leonard Peltier. We have lessons from the playing days of a hall of fame football player. It takes months to grow and seconds to eat. We speak to a New Mexico certified chile farmer who is sustaining her people’s practices.
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[@chuckheppner4384]

🦅 #FreeLeonardPeltier What I am is a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, and an artist. I am a man who loves his people and wants to go home. We have over the years proven again and again that every piece of evidence used to convict me has been false. The FBI with its unlimited resources has done everything it possibly can to keep me in prison. They [Federal Government] don't care if I am guilty or innocent. I serve their purpose in here. Other than what I have mentioned, what fear could they possibly have from a old man with dimming eyesight, arthritis, diabetes, and other health issues that render me hardly a threat to anyone. They still don't want to admit to the world that this isn't the best and the fairest and most equal justice system. And that they are guilty of railroading people into jail. They don't want to, or never will, admit these things. The FBI with their heavy influence on the judiciary system has successfully blocked me on every turn. The FBI has always supported big business and big government. In them days, it was just still not illegal to kill an Indian. If you killed an Indian, you'd be very unfortunate if you got probation - most of them were released immediately. AIM in essence is a movement rather than just an organization. It is a manifestation of the desperation of our people. During that time period all of our tribes were suffering extremely from poverty and neglect. And the reason I say neglect is because the U.S. Government was neglecting its true responsibilities they agreed to in exchange for our land and resources. What I and others attempted to do, and in essence we did, was bring attention to our sovereign rights, the rights we had retained when the treaties were made. It is difficult for me to talk about some of these things without reliving the extreme emotions and loss one always feels for the untimely deaths of acquaintances, family and friends, all because they stood up against the unlawful tyranny of non-Indian America. The government and its prosecutors are continually trying to block my efforts to win my freedom and expose their judicial wrong doings; they systematically try to block me from obtaining FBI files which I know would exonerate me. I don't know the exact conditions of everybody else, but I do know that I have been denied adequate and proper health care and I suffer greatly from that. At this writing I can't even shut my lower jaw because of inadequate health care. I can't chew my food, I have trouble walking...the list goes on. But more than anything I want to go home. If you follow the laws at the time of my conviction I should have been released already. As to whether I will ever get out, it will obviously take some large measures of public opinion because the judiciary system of America is totally interlaced with bureaucratic influences that perpetuate FBI control over judges, prosecutors and court proceedings. No human being should ever have to fear for his own life because of political or religious beliefs. We are all in this together, my friends, the rich, the poor, the red, white, black, brown and yellow. We share responsibility for Mother Earth and those who live and breathe upon her ..never forget that. My supporters and family have limited resources, very limited resources; but the FBI has the unlimited resources of the most powerful government in the world today. It's amazing that they haven't successfully had me assassinated since I have been in here. There have been plots uncovered in the past that I know of to have me killed. I would like to say, historically, from the very beginning, our people have time and again expressed the need for people to live in harmony with the creator, the mother earth, fellow man, and respect our brother's vision. In the past and the present, we have been responsible for the greatest gains; cultivated foods and medicines; democratic government, and many other areas of concern. We need to do more than just what is right. We need to join together and right what is wrong. To heal will require real effort, and a change of heart, from all of us. To heal means that we will begin to look upon one another with respect and tolerance instead of prejudice, distrust and hatred. We will have to teach our children-as well as ourselves-to love the diversity of humanity....We can do it. Yes, you and I and all of us together. Now is the time. Now is the only possible time. Let the Great Healing begin. I don’t know how to save the world. I don’t have the answers or The Answer. I hold no secret knowledge as to how to fix the mistakes of generations past and present. I only know that without compassion and respect for all of Earth’s inhabitants, none of us will survive --- nor will we deserve to." Leonard Peltier

[@Bootstataboots]

Thank you for posting this here. I had never read this before.

[@chuckheppner4384]

@@Bootstataboots You're certainly welcome. May the Great Mystery continue to guide and protect the paths of you and your loved ones.

[@nickiewilson9134]

We're with you Leonard, love from Vancouver Island, B.C,from tour West Coast Salish friend's. ❤😢❤🇨🇦

[@mothersgauri4137]

PLEASE keep calling out this travesty of keeping Leonard ILLEGALLY in prison all these years. This is disgusting. There needs to be more of these protests....daily....shout until they HAVE to listen. Thank you for reporting on this case....which rarely is done.

[@perrybelcourt5441]

Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont got out one native that was imprisoned a year ago

[@Bootstataboots]

I feel so bad for his daughter Kathy. Her father has been imprisoned her entire life. Always hoping yet still not being able to spend time with your dad outside of the prison halls.

[@StonedustandStardust]

Yes, President Biden, Pardon Leonard Peltier!

[@alro11]

Thank you for persisting. I do not know HOW MANY times I have called, written letters, talked to senators and congress people and insisted on BIDEN to let him out! WHY won't he do it????? It is THE MOST egregious act to keep this man locked up. Will never give up ~ keep going til he's free. Blessings to you all and esp Leonard's family and relatives.

[@jamesfox2857]

#FreeLeonardPeltier

[@nickiewilson9134]

Everyone knows how corrupt the FBI,he did his time for a crime he didn't do,Free Leonard now it's cruel to hold him this long.❤

[@Natashas-life]

They need to let Peltier get out and be home. We learned about his story in school. Why wont they let him go?

[@barkeyes8592]

Let this man out! I'm 56 and I remember him being imprisoned wrongly when I was a kid. I can't believe he is still in there. My lord.

[@HelenCamile63]

Enough is enough! Free Leonard Peltier!

[@robertlopez7214]

Clemency for Leonard Peltier

[@MrStaybrown]

It takes money to release a prisoner..Kardashians did it, Pete McDonald did it, money talks.

[@air4334]

Free Leonard Peltier already !!!!

[@robertedwards9398]

Merry Christmas ❤❤and happy new year 🎉

[@MegaCassie83]

When I buy a house(hopefully) I want a chili roaster

[@markmcg6426]

Jim. Thank you for sharing your time. I think we need to be in the White House. In the congress and all officials offices. We need landlords. We have the biggest advantage in the world. Tax exempt. Buy land. Learn and teach. Landlords.

[@user-rn6hr1qw3l]

Tribes across the country need to have tribal resolutions passed and signed by the tribal councils across the country demanding leonards immediate release , this must happen!!! All tribes across indian country

[@Tara-di4cb]

I was born in 74 I grew up seeing free leanord peltier on many numbers iof cars childhood memories. What has he done compared to many today who r even twice murders everything. I pray he will be released

[@LoffOksitosin]

FREE FREEDOM FOR LEONARD PELTIER now! The world is watching mr Peltier. Blessings & Prayers from the Netherlands.

[@chalinofalcone871]

"The Anglo-American System... had no place for the Indian. If the latter could of his own initiative find subsistence within the framework, there was a priori nothing to prevent such adjustment. But if there was any conflict whatsoever with the system, the native was to be estimated ruthlessly, either by outright extermination or the slower method of segregation in ghettolike reservations." (S.F. Cook, The Conflict Between California Indians and White Civilization, II, Ibero-American: 22, University of California Press, 1943, Berkley) [Indians of California: Past and Present, American Friends Service Committee]

[@California.sun77]

Every president of both parties who have not released Leonard should be held accountable. There is no justice for us Indigenous people.

[@ambassador8524]

No one was moved on the report about the chili’s! Free Leo!

[@chalinofalcone871]

"Things like radio, can push people up into a new kind of awareness that makes it very difficult for them to relate to other people. Ireland, has shown many responses to this situation, in its reactions with North & South of Ireland, and its relations with England. I mention them because everyone tends to know a bit about them. And it has been irreconcilable to until now, anyway. The English representing the highly literate society and the Irish representing a more oral and much more communal and tribal group." [Violence As Quest for Identity, Marshall McLuhan, TVO, Canada, 1977]

[@TheMetoyou1]

I live in 🇬🇧 and I say Free Leonard !🙏🪶

[@D1900fas]

Let him go already damn!

[@markmcg6426]

47 years.😮.

[@Nothing-hp3zq]

Free Leonard now!!! It may restore some trust in the ‘justice’ system

[@Babu-kr3cr]

I try to leave comments on this topic on different videos and they don't post again and again. The lawyer has the wrong angle on the case. He doesn't believe in the government correcting itself which is what the whole appeals process addresses. Just asking for clemency based on ill health while leaving the murder conviction standing won't help. If the murder conviction can be proven wrong, that has to be the main point of the defense. The ballistic evidence must be introduced, the intentions of the jury must be brought into question, etc.

[@Tara-di4cb]

From Oregon Biden use your power . Free Leanord Peltier.! Dearest President High Chief . Mercy Mercy

[@kat2159]

Please For Justice Release Leonard Peltier and Let Him Go Home. Enough is Enough.

[@1HorseOpenSlay]

Please let him go! It's time to review the evidence and free an innocent man, please 💛

[@robertedwards9398]

Send me some chilly peppers

[@dirkscott4966]

Amen enough is enough long over due

[@tomstanley7568]

looks like summer there its winter not far from there right now well kinda but the leaves are dead

[@darrellleeper7534]

Studied about him in 1995 + years ago felt the sadness Darrell from Ohio .

[@marcelpoitras6654]

FREE Leonard!

[@TerriAnnNiemeier-dy3no]

Those chilis ae hotter then fire, the oils can burn dry. Its old torture powder too. Yikes

[@vivalaleta]

Such a looong injustice.

[@laurencaulton103]

The woman is a Navajo, like it said on the screen. That's why it's important to learn to read.

[@pauldaystar]

True False Charges 47+ Years, i met Leonard in 1970's

[@guenther1]

FREE Leonard NOW.

[@brianrivasoconer5543]

Let him go free

[@lovevluv]

46 Years served. Nearly half a century. 1/2 of 100 years. A whole generation almost. He is getting older and he is not a threat. Give this man his freedom finally. #freepeltier

[@TerriAnnNiemeier-dy3no]

Is this a chili ad ? Hot Stuff, pass

[@shippo36able]

FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!

[@rosemerasty7089]

Free Leonard Pellitier

[@SheLovedMeOnPayDay]

We know who the Israeli is and Palestinian is in the USA. One is an occupier and one is the oppressed.

[@birdiemiller4219]

You know the American government has done very well at keeping certain brown people poor, for a reason. One Indian Casino clears about 44m in revenue yearly for the US Goverment......and how many Indian Casino's does America have Nationwide?

[@wheepingwillow24u17]

WHY IS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CHINESE WOMAN REPORTING ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AFFAIRS?

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Why it appears that way to you, is because you're not familiar with Indians and what some nations people look like. It's not your fault. It's just that the US is a nation of cowards and doesn't show us on your lamestream media channels. That's why it appears to you, a Chinese woman is reporting. She (neither of the two) clearly isn't Chinese, but your mind places her from China, because it's the closest thing you've seen of people who look like her. They literally tell you which nation both those ladies are from too though. I'm not sure how your mind got to Chinese after looking at who you're talking about. They're not even close to looking like Chinese. Very odd. My best guess is, you must be talking about the first one, the Navajo. They Navajo do are a little bit of similar eyes, but it's not that close and the rest of the face is obviously very different. I guess you've never been to the Navajo nation? I've been several times. They're not people from China. :D

[@Firedog-ny3cq]

You clearly don't have a clue about the physical and facial differences between Asians and First Nations people or their vocalization patterns.

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

@@Firedog-ny3cq It's not his/her fault. We;re excluded from socitey because the US doesn't want to face us and hinder white privileged folks with the reminder that they've replaced us via mass Genocide. I'm still scratching my head about them thinking they're Chinese, but whatever lol. Them not knowing what real Indians look like isn't their fault. Most settlers think about the plains Indians and mascots like them. It's all they know. It's on purpose, they're uneducated about us. The US terrorist group, pretending to be a government, uses multiple forms of ongoing Genocide and attempts to erase, replace and ignore us. At least in the colony of Canada, Indian affairs (first nation as they call us up there lol) in their news but down here, they purposely ignore us because white fragility is so frail down here.

[@maskcollector6949]

​@@Firedog-ny3cq I mean to be fair there's common ancestry via Mongolia where everyone migrated from and the reporter sounds more like a Valley girl than anything.

[@j.b.4340]

They should get a life, and a real job.

[@TerriAnnNiemeier-dy3no]

He must be very old by now, I've no memory of him. Dennis Banks ran like a horse and always could. Otherwise it must of been a very bad Powwow weekend.

[@getreal1276]

I bitched to Trump for 4 years to pardon Leonard.

[@faithyates7826]

Keep the criminal in jail. He gets everything he deserves.

[@nickiewilson9134]

50 yrs,you must be a colonizer.

[@joannehack7588]

You must be a sad sad person. I hope to never meet

[@chalinofalcone871]

"The example of Bolivia has shown that once the Indian begins voting, he has little common cause with large landowning or industrial interests. Thus the best hope for the status quo is to keep the Indian ignorant, sick, poverty stricken, & politically impotent." [The Great Shark Hunt, Hunter S. Thompson, 1977, Part 3, The Inca of the Andes: He Haunts the ruins of His Once Great Empire, p. 418]

[@rikkenielsen8678]

Free Turtle Island and free Leonard Peltier!🕊⚫️🟡🔴⚪️🌿