UPDATE: On January 20, 2025, President Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous elder and activist Leonard Peltier.
Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, made the following statement:
“President Biden was right to commute the life sentence of Indigenous elder and activist Leonard Peltier given the serious human rights concerns about the fairness of his trial.
“Amnesty International has advocated for the U.S. government to grant Leonard Peltier clemency for years, following the leadership of Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples.”
Peltier was released from prison on February 18, 2025, as a result of that commutation.
No further action is required.
Resources
PRESIDENT BIDEN: FREE LEONARD PELTIER (SHORT FILM)
WARRIOR: THE LIFE OF LEONARD PELTIER (FILM)
Letters of support
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA LETTER OF SUPPORT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, SEPTEMBER 2024
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL LETTER IN SUPPORT OF PAROLE FOR LEONARD PELTIER, MAY 2024
LETTER OF SUPPORT: OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE PRESIDENT
LETTER OF SUPPORT: PRESIDENT FAWN SHARP, NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS
LETTER OF SUPPORT: JOHN ECHOHAWK, NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND
LETTER OF SUPPORT: US ATTORNEY JAMES H. REYNOLDS
LETTER OF SUPPORT: FBI AGENT JOHN RYAN
LETTER OF SUPPORT: RETIRED FBI SPECIAL AGENT COLEEN ROWLEY
LETTER OF SUPPORT: DNC RESOLUTION LETTER TO BIDEN LED BY REP RUTH BUFFALO
LETTER OF SUPPORT: HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION
LETTER OF SUPPORT: PEOPLE OF FAITH
LETTER OF SUPPORT: US REPRESENTATIVES
LETTER OF SUPPORT: INDIGENOUS LEADERS AND ALLIES IN ENTERTAINMENT AND FASHION
LETTER OF SUPPORT: US SENATORS
LETTER OF SUPPORT: UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS
LETTER OF SUPPORT: NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES
LETTER OF SUPPORT: JUDGE GERALD HEANEY
LETTER OF SUPPORT: CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE
LETTER OF SUPPORT: CHAIRMAN ARCHAMBAULT OF THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE
