Clyde Bellecourt, co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM), has died.
Bellecourt was the group's last living original founder. npr.org/2022/01/12/107…
Bellecourt was the group's last living original founder. npr.org/2022/01/12/107…
The American Indian Movement (AIM), founded in 1968, is a grassroots group of activists who were initially focused on drawing attention to federal treaty rights violations, discrimination and police brutality targeting Native Americans.
Naturally, the FBI ran a covert campaign in the late 1960s-70s aimed at suppressing the activities of AIM.
Much like the Black Panthers, AIM was subversive and challenged the shitty status quo for people of color. That made it ripe for infiltration by the FBI.
Much like the Black Panthers, AIM was subversive and challenged the shitty status quo for people of color. That made it ripe for infiltration by the FBI.
That was decades ago. But there's an AIM member who is *still* in prison from the 1970s, who the Hoover-era FBI put behind bars for life based on proven lies, threats and zero evidence he committed a crime.
Leonard Peltier.
Leonard Peltier.
Why is Leonard Peltier still in prison based on a trial riddled with outrageous misconduct?
Good question.
As Peltier's pro bono attorney has put it, it's one of the worst miscarriages of justice this country has ever seen. And we've seen plenty. huffpost.com/entry/leonard-…
Good question.
As Peltier's pro bono attorney has put it, it's one of the worst miscarriages of justice this country has ever seen. And we've seen plenty. huffpost.com/entry/leonard-…
"We were not able to prove that Mr. Peltier personally committed any offense on the Pine Ridge Reservation.”
--the former U.S. attorney who helped put Peltier in jail in the 1970s, to Biden in July 2021
--the former U.S. attorney who helped put Peltier in jail in the 1970s, to Biden in July 2021
I would say it's beyond my comprehension why there is so little political will to release Peltier from prison, except I recognize it's because the US govt is complicit and govt officials simply do not want to talk about that.
As Peltier's pro bono atty (+ a former Obama judge) put it:
"In order to get clemency, you have to get the FBI on board. They have an inherent conflict. You have to get the US Attorney’s Office on board... They have an inherent conflict. They’re not going to say, ‘Oops, sorry.’”
"In order to get clemency, you have to get the FBI on board. They have an inherent conflict. You have to get the US Attorney’s Office on board... They have an inherent conflict. They’re not going to say, ‘Oops, sorry.’”
If you have 10 mins to spare, give this piece a read about the confounding, infuriating, tragic story of Leonard Peltier's unjust imprisonment.
Peltier has been in prison for 45 years now. Biden is likely his last hope of going home before he dies. huffpost.com/entry/leonard-…
Peltier has been in prison for 45 years now. Biden is likely his last hope of going home before he dies. huffpost.com/entry/leonard-…
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