Paul Ellertson, contributor

Native American activists gathered outside the White House on Tuesday, Sept. 12 as  American Indian Movement (AIM) Leader Leonard Peltier, celebrated his 79th birthday in prison. According to AP News, Peltier has been in prison for a total of 46 years. The rally was held to urge President Biden to grant clemency for Peltier after being convicted to two life sentences in 1977 for aiding and abetting the deaths of two FBI agents during a 1975 standoff on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. 

Over 100 supporters, including Peltier’s daughter, sister and grandchildren, traveled from South Dakota to D.C. to attend the rally according to AP News. All were urging for Peltier’s release with chants of “Free Peltier,” drums beats and impassioned speeches echoing from the crowd.

In 1973, members of AIM, (including Peltier) took over the village of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation which led to a 71 day standoff with federal agents. According to AP News, the occupation was a protest against police brutality and discrimination against Native Americans and the tensions between AIM members and the federal government were high on Pine Ridge leading up to the agents’ deaths in 1975. 

According to Kathy Peltier, Peltier’s daughter, in an interview with Indian Country Today (ICT), ballistics testing on the weapon and bullet proved that there was no match to her father’s weapon and the weapon responsible for the agent’s deaths. According to Peltier’s attorney, Kevin Sharp, in the same ICT interview, the original 1977 trial also withheld substantial evidence that proved Peltier’s innocence, violated Peltier’s constitutional rights and had openly anti-Indigenous jurors trying Peltier.

According to NBC, Peltier has made numerous attempts throughout the years to attest his innocence while the FBI stands firm with his guilty verdict. Peltier no longer has the option to file an appeal, all of Peltier’s parole requests have been denied and former president Barack Obama refused to grant him clemency. According to AP News, many are hoping president Biden will be the one to grant clemency since the Biden administration has claimed Indigenous civil rights as one of its top priorities. 

Peltier has never gotten the chance to know his daughter, grandchildren or great-grandchildren due to his imprisonment. “We only know him as the person in prison, for a crime he never committed,” said Kathy Peltier to ICT. According to CBS news, supporters also worry for the activist’s age and deteriorating health. He wishes to use his last few years to fight for his community.  “I would like to breathe free air before I die… There is still lots of work I would like to be a part of,” said Nick Tilson, president of the Indigenous-led NDN Collective, on behalf of Peltier.