CANTON, Ohio — After nearly 50 years behind bars, Leonard Peltier, an ailing Indigenous rights activist, faces continued challenges in his quest for parole. The federal Parole Commission recently rejected his bid for release, a decision met with disappointment by his supporters and legal team.
Peltier, now 79, based his case for parole on his age, nonviolent behavior in prison, and deteriorating health due to various medical conditions. Despite his lawyer, Kevin Sharp, acknowledging that this parole request was likely Peltier’s final opportunity for release, the Commission denied his bid. An interim hearing regarding Peltier’s parole status is now scheduled for 2026, with a full hearing set for 2039 when he would be 94 years old.
Sharp intends to appeal the Commission’s decision, emphasizing that the rejection of Peltier’s parole bid perpetuates the injustice surrounding his longstanding incarceration. He believes that the United States missed an opportunity to acknowledge the FBI’s alleged misconduct and address the repercussions of the government’s actions in the 1970s.
Throughout the years, Peltier’s case has drawn support from various groups and individuals, including human rights organizations, religious leaders, and lawmakers. However, despite these endorsements, both parole and presidential clemency requests have faced significant opposition from law enforcement, making early release unlikely given the gravity of the crime Peltier was convicted of.
Peltier is serving two consecutive life sentences for the fatal shootings of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams. The events of June 26, 1975, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota led to these tragic deaths, sparking a contentious legal battle that has persisted to this day. While Peltier has consistently maintained his innocence, citing flaws in the investigation and trial proceedings, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have stood by his conviction.
Amidst ongoing debates over the fairness of Peltier’s trial and conviction, Native American rights groups and tribal leaders argue that his case exemplifies broader issues of injustice and mistreatment faced by Indigenous people in their interactions with the federal government. The denial of Peltier’s parole reinvigorates calls for justice from advocates like Nick Tilsen, who remains committed to ensuring that Peltier receives a fair and just outcome.