Leonard Peltier, a prominent Native American activist, was released from a Florida prison on Tuesday after serving decades for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. Peltier, now 80 years old, is set to return to his North Dakota community, where supporters are eagerly awaiting his arrival.
The welcome event is scheduled to take place at an events center in Belcourt, North Dakota, located on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians' reservation. Peltier's attorneys expressed their excitement for his release, noting that he is in good spirits and has the soul of a warrior.
Former President Joe Biden commuted Peltier's life sentence to home confinement, leading to his release from the Coleman penitentiary. Peltier had been convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in connection to a 1975 confrontation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, where FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams lost their lives.
While Peltier admitted to firing shots during the incident, he has consistently denied being responsible for the agents' deaths. Many in the Native American community view Peltier as a political prisoner who was wrongly convicted due to his activism in advocating for tribal rights as a member of the American Indian Movement.
Despite widespread support for Peltier's release, there have been opposing views within law enforcement circles. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray, for instance, described Peltier as a 'remorseless killer' who should remain behind bars. However, Biden cited Peltier's time served, advanced age, and his influential role among Native Americans as factors in his decision to commute the sentence.
As Peltier prepares to reunite with his family and supporters in Belcourt, the community eagerly anticipates his return and the opportunity to celebrate his freedom after decades of incarceration.
