Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist and member of the American Indian Movement, has been a symbol of injustice and Indigenous rights for decades. Peltier is serving two life sentences for the deaths of two FBI agents during a 1975 shootout, a conviction many believe was politically motivated and unjust. Petitions under this topic call for Peltiers release, citing concerns about the fairness of his trial and his deteriorating health in prison. One petition, with thousands of signatures, urges President Joe Biden to grant clemency to Peltier and correct this miscarriage of justice. Explore the petitions to support Peltiers cause and advocate for Indigenous rights and criminal justice reform. Your involvement can make a difference in bringing attention to Peltiers case and seeking justice for him and his community.
President Biden,
Sir, please consider clemency or pardon for Leonard Peltier. I fully believe he is innocent of the crimes he was convicted of. The prosecutor on his case has even spoken out in support of Mr Peltier's innocence. The only reason he was convicted was the wrongdoing of the FBI in so many ways. Witnesses were threatened and coerced, evidence withheld, evidence "lost" or switched, ballistics even proved the gun supposedly used didn't match the bullets found in the agents.
Besides all the items pointing to a wrongful conviction, over 50 years have passed with him developing serious health issues. It's time for showing compassion and releasing him.
Thank you for taking this very important issue into your consideration. Please don't bow to the pressure of the FBI like former presidents have fallen victim to.
Dear President Biden, I appeal to you with all my heart to grant clemency for Leonard Peltier. His trial was flawed and in any event has been incarcerated long enough. It is time for mercy that only you can provide.
"The quality of mercy is not strain'd.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The thronèd monarch better than his crown." -- William Shakespeare
Let mercy be your message.
Yours very truly,
John Viola
Attorney at Law
Lecturer, SFSU Criminal Justice Studies
(University affiliation used for identification only)
President Biden,
…As your time as president comes to an end, you have the opportunity to lead us toward growth and justice. Choose the path less traveled—the path of truth, compassion, and restorative justice. By granting clemency, you can point our country toward a future grounded in humanity and reconciliation.
Whether Leonard Peltier is guilty or not, granting clemency is a compassionate and necessary act. After nearly five decades in prison, his continued incarceration serves no purpose but to perpetuate injustice. I could live with granting clemency to someone who might be guilty after so many years of suffering. What I cannot accept is allowing a potentially innocent man to die behind bars, deprived of justice, dignity, and compassion.
Please, act now. Show the world—and yourself—that you are capable of leading with humanity and courage. Grant Leonard Peltier clemency.