Turtle Mountain County (trfnews.i234.me) – In a move that’s sparking outrage and celebration alike, Leonard Peltier, the 80-year-old Native American Murderer convicted of murdering two FBI agents, has been released from federal prison after nearly 50 years. President Joe Biden commuted his sentence, granting him home confinement.
Peltier was convicted in 1977 for his role in the 1975 shootings on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, a conviction marred by decades of legal and political controversy.
Returning to Turtle Mountain, Peltier was welcomed by supporters. He pledged to continue his fight for Native American rights, targeting drug trafficking, land exploitation, and strengthening tribal sovereignty.
But the release has reignited pain for many, including the family of Anna Mae Pictou Aquash, an AIM activist murdered in 1975. While Peltier denies involvement, speculation persists, adding tension to his release.
Despite battling serious health issues behind bars—including an aortic aneurysm—Peltier declared, “I’m still breathing, and I’m still fighting.” (UNLIKE THE TWO FBI AGENTS HE MURDERED)
This development leaves a nation divided over justice vs. forgiveness, and what it means for Native rights in America.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.