After spending nearly half a century in prison, Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier is set to be released following the commutation of his life sentence by former President Joe Biden.

Peltier, who was convicted for his involvement in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, has long been a symbol of injustice for many Indigenous people and their supporters. His release has sparked mixed reactions, drawing praise from advocates for Native American rights and civil liberties, while angering law enforcement officials who continue to believe in his guilt.

Peltier’s Background and the Charges

Leonard Peltier, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota, became a prominent figure in the American Indian Movement (AIM). This movement, which began in the 1960s, advocated for Native American treaty rights, tribal self-determination, and an end to systemic discrimination. AIM made headlines in 1969 with the occupation of Alcatraz Island, and in 1972 with the takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. These actions, along with the group’s growing influence, led to heavy FBI surveillance and harassment under a covert government program designed to disrupt activism.

The events leading to Peltier’s conviction stem from a confrontation between AIM members and FBI agents on the Oglala Sioux Indian Reservation on June 26, 1975. Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were shot and killed while attempting to serve arrest warrants. Peltier was convicted for the murders of the two FBI agents, although the case has always been controversial. Peltier admitted to being at the scene and firing a weapon but claimed he did so in self-defense. A key witness who originally testified against him later recanted, saying her testimony was coerced.

Despite questions about the fairness of his trial, Peltier was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murders. Two of his co-defendants, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted on self-defense grounds, while Peltier was denied parole multiple times.

The Campaign for His Release

Over the years, Peltier’s case became a rallying cry for human rights organizations and Indigenous groups who argued that he had been unjustly imprisoned. Amnesty International has long regarded Peltier as a political prisoner, while groups like the National Congress of American Indians have called for his release for decades. High-profile supporters, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Coretta Scott King, and actor Robert Redford, have advocated for his freedom, believing that his trial was unfair and that his long imprisonment was a result of systemic injustice faced by Native Americans.

In 2021, former President Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence to home confinement. This decision was celebrated by many, including Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, who praised the commutation as a long-overdue move in the pursuit of justice. “Leonard Peltier’s release is the right thing to do given the serious and ongoing human rights concerns about the fairness of his trial, his nearly 50 years behind bars, his health, and his age,” O’Brien said.

Opposition and Controversy

However, Peltier’s release has not been universally welcomed. Law enforcement officials, including former FBI Director Christopher Wray, have voiced strong opposition. Wray called Peltier “a remorseless killer” and criticized the decision as unjust. In a letter to President Biden, Wray argued that releasing Peltier would be an affront to the rule of law.

Peltier’s Legacy and What Lies Ahead

For Peltier’s supporters, his release represents a victory for justice, while also symbolizing the broader fight for Native American rights. His case has highlighted issues of systemic abuse, including the forced relocation of Indigenous children to boarding schools and the ongoing struggles for self-determination and equality in Native communities.

Leonard Peltier’s story is not just about one man’s fight for freedom; it is about the injustices faced by entire communities, generations of Indigenous people who have been marginalized and oppressed. Now, at the age of 80, Peltier is set to return to his family, where he hopes to spend time painting and enjoying his life with his grandchildren. His release has brought both joy to his supporters and bitterness to those who believe justice has not been served.