Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist, was released from federal prison after President Biden commuted his sentence. Peltier expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating, 'They may have imprisoned me but they never took my spirit!' He spent nearly 49 years incarcerated due to a 1975 incident that involved the deaths of two FBI agents during a confrontation with members of the American Indian Movement (AIM). Although he remains convicted, this commutation enables him to spend his remaining days in home confinement, reflecting the systemic injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples as noted by the National Congress of American Indians.
Peltier stated, 'They may have imprisoned me but they never took my spirit! Thank you to all my supporters throughout the world who fought for my freedom.'
President Biden declared that the commutation allows Peltier, now 80 and in poor health, to spend his remaining days in home confinement.
The National Congress of American Indians celebrated Peltier's commutation as historic, highlighting the systemic injustices Indigenous Peoples have faced.
Peltier has maintained his innocence since his conviction, and his case symbolizes long-standing issues with justice for Native Americans.
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