Leonard Peltier: biography and photos

Peltier Leonard is a well-known public figure whose name is related to the struggle of the American Indians for their rights. As a result of one of the skirmishes of power and the natives of America, this man was imprisoned, where he is still for almost forty years. Many believe that he was convicted unfairly. Leonard Peltier - perhaps the most famous, famous and respected Indian of our time.

Hard childhood

The future public figure was born on September 12, 1944 in the family of Indians, belonging to the Dakota and Anishinab tribes. The homeland of a man named Peltier Leonard - North Dakota (reservation Tetl Mounta).

Leonard's childhood was heavy. The family was poor, and, as it usually happens, a chronic lack of money led to fatal consequences. Mother of the boy, to earn a living on bread, went into prostitutes. And the father, who did not have the opportunity to earn enough money to provide for his family, could not stand it and drank heavily. As a result, the parents divorced, and the young Peltier was sent to the state Indian school "Vakhpeton", where the cruel discipline reigned.

At the end of the school, Leonard Peltier returns to Tetl Mount and lives with his father. Everything that happens on the reservation, namely a strict police regime and attempts to survive Native Americans from the city, is very disliked by a patriotically minded young man with a heightened sense of justice. And for a long time he could not sit idly by.

Social activity

In 1970, the twenty-six-year-old Peltier Leonard joins the American Indian Movement and takes an active part in various protest actions.

For example, he, along with other representatives of the American Indian Movement (AIE), carried out the "seizure" of the ADI (Indian Agency), participated in the action called "The Path of Violated Treaties", "took" Fort Lawton, etc. In just a few years, an ordinary member of the organization was able to become one of its most prominent participants. Fearlessness, unwillingness to compromise with one's conscience and the enemy, the dedication and persistence made Peltier famous. But happiness did not bring him, because they took away the most valuable thing that a man has - freedom.

The event that turned life around

In June 1975, an event occurred that divided the life of a young Indian activist into "before" and "after". Its prehistory is as follows: after the uprising that swept the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1973, the latter was on a special account with the police. To control the Indians from the Ogla Dakota tribe, the FBI leadership even assigned to them two employees of the service, whose duties included monitoring every step of potential rebels and reporting "upstairs" about any little things.

For their part, the members of the DPI did not stay idle. They set up a camp near the village in order to protect the reservation from the oppression of the state. We can say that at that time, Pine Ridge was the stronghold of activists, among whom was Leonard Peltier.

Between the police and the inhabitants of the village, clashes often arose. The clash that occurred on June 26, 1975, ended very sadly for many of its participants ...

On that day, two FBI agents broke into the ranch Jumping Bull to arrest an Indian suspected of extremism. The vigilant participants of the DAI interfered in the situation. There was a shootout, as a result of which the FBI-sheep were killed. The incident cost the lives of one young Indian from the reservation. In the murder of agents accused Peltier and three of his comrades. Soon after the last accusation was lifted, and Leonard went on a run.

Punitive operation

After the events that took place on June 26, the FBI launched a brutal punitive operation against the Indians from Pine Ridge. The employees of the service motivated their actions in the eyes of the public with false statements that their colleagues were tortured before death, and the murder itself was brutal. Allegedly the bodies of the agents were literally riddled with bullets (although in fact each of them received three wounds).

Residents of the reservation were intimidated by a powerful weapon, regularly subjected to raids, and detainees in this case were inclined to give false testimony through physical torture and moral pressure.

It is likely that the testimonies of one young native American, Mertl, against Leonard Peltier were also obtained in this way. The girl said that she was a close friend of the activist and was present at the shooting of agents to them.

Investigation

So, on the basis of false testimony of a fake bride Peltier Leonard, an activist of the American Indian Movement, was formally charged with the murder of FBI agents Jack Cowler and Ronald Williams. At that time, the rebel was already far beyond his homeland - in Canada, and he was intensely sought by the authorities of the States. Up until the very arrest, the activist's name appeared on the list of the ten most wanted criminals in the United States of America.

In the meantime, there was an investigation. As a result, it turned out that the FBI officers were first wounded, and then shot at point-blank range. And this control shot, according to investigators, it was Leonard Peltier, whose photo was already on all the poles.

Arrest, court and sentence

When two other defendants of the case, the Indians Butler and Robidot, were acquitted, the hunt for their runaway comrade gained particular cruelty. And as a result, Peltier Leonard, whose biography began in North Dakota, was discovered and detained almost two thousand kilometers from his home - in the town of Hinton (Canada). He was arrested and placed in solitary confinement in a Canadian prison, and later transferred to his homeland.

The trial of an activist accused of double murder was held in the town of Fargo, North Dakota. On the first day of the summer of 1977, Peltier Leonard (DAI activist) was found guilty of a crime and sentenced to two life imprisonments (one for each agent) in prison. In American legal proceedings, there are often situations where people are sentenced to several life imprisonments or give "strange" terms. For example, a hundred or two hundred years. Such sentences mean that after the death the body of the convicted person is not extradited to relatives and his remains can leave the prison only after "serving" the full term. America is considered the most democratic country in the world, which its politicians never tire of reminding the whole world. But, surprisingly, in this country there is still such a cruel practice, which can not be called humane.

Statement by Leonard Peltier

While still in the Canadian prison, Peltier turned to the court of this country and to the entire world public with a loud statement. He called accusations against him fabricated, and the matter itself - political. Also, the activist accused the US authorities of systematically persecuting "colored" peoples who from time immemorial inhabited the lands of America, and then were driven out by white aliens on the reservation. But even the territory that was left to the Indians, according to Peltier, is curtailed. White people are fighting a war against the indigenous people, trying to take away their land, freedom and life. In the rivers from which the Indians drink, mercury waste pours out, the territories of reservations are narrowed, and people who are trying to defend the rights of their people are mercilessly exterminated or isolated from society.

At the end of his statement, Leonard Peltier asked the Canadian government not to become complicit in the criminal actions of the US authorities and grant him political asylum. But, alas, his request was not granted.

Promotions in support of Peltier

After some time after the trial and the verdict was announced, the FBI hid very important information from the investigators. Namely, the conclusions of ballistic experts who claimed that the bullets extracted from the bodies of the dead agents were not released from the rifle of Leonard Peltier. Even the employees of the service later admitted that they do not know who killed their colleagues.

Doubts about the guilt of Peltier were announced by the organization "Amnesty International", which did not dismiss charges for participation in the conflict that occurred on June 26, but did not consider the killer of the activist.

One by one, in defense of the convicted, organizations from different countries of the world began to express themselves, including the USSR, where actions were often held in support of a fighter for the rights of Indians. Every day the words about the fabricated case and its political background sounded louder. Even the UN advocated the liberation of Leonard, but the American femida ignored all this.

Judge Heaney's petition

True, some representatives of the US judicial system nevertheless tried to restore justice. So, in 1991, Judge Heaney stated that the American authorities acted incorrectly. Instead of showing caution in dealing with the Indians, they showed cruelty and exerted pressure, causing legitimate protests. Therefore, according to the judge, the government of the United States of America should share responsibility for the riots with the rebels. And one of them - Peltier Leonard, must be pardoned. Mr. Heaney tried to convince the public that the early release of the activist would be an important step towards reconciliation of the warring parts of the American people.

Request for amnesty

Unfortunately, neither the voices of more than five hundred organizations of the world, nor the arguments of Judge Heaney were heard. And it was only in 2009 that the Peltier case was heard by the Commission on UDO.

Under American law, a prisoner who has served thirty years and has not committed serious violations has the right to apply for parole. Leonard Peltier spent more than three decades in prison, and exercised his right.

During the trial, the activist delivered an hour and a half speech. Many serious forces vouched for Peltier and promised him support in terms of housing and work in case of release.

Again, the court remained indifferent, taking the side of prosecutors and FSB officers. The fighter for the rights of the Indians to this day continues to remain behind bars. And the next opportunity to ask for an amnesty from him will appear only in 2024. But will the prisoner live before this time?

Activities in prison

Even being isolated from society, Peltier continues to conduct public activities. His spirit is not broken, and his hands are not lowered. Years of captivity, the fighter for the rights of the Indians tried to hold with profit. He wrote a biographical book "Prison notes: My life is my Dance of the Sun", which was published in 1999, and committed many other important actions.

Six times, Peltier Leonard, a prominent US activist, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. And in 2004, this unique man even ran for the presidency of the United States, choosing as the political platform the "Party of Peace and Freedom".

Relevance of the person

The activist did not become president, but today we can safely say that Peltier Leonard is an American hero and one of the most famous political prisoners of our time. Native Americans see in Peltier a martyr and their guardian angel. Many people who have no relation to the Indians appreciated the books written by Peltier and his paintings. But the most important thing that causes respect and respect for all is the iron willpower, unrestrained spirit and love for one's people, for whose happiness Leonard Peltier fights even when in prison.