Many Native Americans were sorely disappointed that former U.S. President Barack Obama did not commute the life sentences of the longest serving political prisoner.
COLEMAN, FL-Family and supporters of Leonard Peltier, who has spent most of his life in prison, were devastated when former U.S. President Barack Obama chose not to pardon or commute his sentence. They had placed their hope in the fact that of all the American presidents who have served since Peltier has been incarcerated, President Obama would be the most likely one to set him free. But this would not be the case.
Among this prisoner's most prominent supporters was Pope Francis, who wrote to the White House on Peltier's behalf. Even his letter didn't have much effect.
Peltier was sentenced to life imprisonment for the part he played in the killing of two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, during a shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation on June 26, 1975. He has exhausted his appeals and his requests for parole have been denied. Peltier, now 72, is an inmate in the federal prison in Coleman, Florida.
According to the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, he is reported to be in poor health.
His supporters believe that since President Obama did not commute his sentence, there is little or no chance that President Trump will do so.
Peltier was one of the founders of the American Indian Movement (AIM), which made headlines when they took over the village of Wounded Knee, SD, which led to a 71-day standoff with federal agents. While Peltier and his supporters believe he is innocent of those charges, the FBI still insists he is guilty and the court concurred sentencing him to two consecutive life sentences.
