NEW YORK, NY (KFGO) – Amnesty International has written a letter to President Biden urging him to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier and release him immediately as he turns 80 on September 12th.
Earlier this year, Amnesty International USA asked the U.S. Parole Commission and the Bureau of Prisons to grant Peltier parole or compassionate release which they denied.
Justin Mazzola, researcher with Amnesty International said Peltier should not have to die in prison. He said in his remaining months in office, President Biden has the opportunity to release Peltier, allowing him to be home with his family and community for his last years, which could be one step to helping mend the fractured relationship between Native Americans and the government and would forever be part of Biden’s legacy.
Peltier has been in federal prison for nearly 50 years, since his conviction for the 1975 fatal shootings of two FBI agents in South Dakota. His trial was held in Fargo.
Comments