Leonard Peltier’s story is one of injustice, resilience, and the ongoing struggle of Native peoples against systemic oppression. For nearly five decades, he has been imprisoned, denied a fair trial, and repeatedly refused the opportunity for justice. Now, in his final days in office, Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence to indefinite house arrest, effective February 18, 2025. While some see this as a long-overdue act of clemency, others recognize it for what it is, another way to keep him captive.
House arrest may seem like a gesture of mercy, but it remains a form of imprisonment. After nearly 50 years behind bars, why must Peltier continue to live under government control? Why is he not fully free?
The case against Peltier has long been criticized for its inconsistencies, withheld evidence, and the government’s relentless targeting of the American Indian Movement (AIM). AIM’s mission has always been clear: to fight for Native sovereignty, cultural preservation, and resistance against systemic oppression. For this, its members have been harassed, infiltrated, and criminalized by federal agencies. Peltier has been their most high-profile target.
Convicted in connection with the deaths of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams during a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Peltier has maintained his innocence. His co-defendants were acquitted on self-defense arguments, and the government’s case relied on coerced testimony and suppressed evidence. Yet, despite calls for a fair trial from human rights organizations, faith leaders, and figures such as Nelson Mandela and Pope Francis, the U.S. government has refused to acknowledge the injustice.
Peltier’s imprisonment is a symbol of the broader mistreatment of Native Americans—a continuation of state-sanctioned violence dating back centuries. The largest mass execution in U.S. history was the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, Minnesota, in 1862. Today, the same government keeps Peltier in captivity, unwilling to admit its wrongdoing.
Native communities, including the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community, have long awaited his release. His walk out of federal prison will be a powerful moment, but bittersweet. He will not be fully free. He will live under house arrest, still controlled by the system that unjustly stole decades of his life.
Why won’t the government grant him complete freedom? Is it because acknowledging the truth means admitting guilt? By refusing a full pardon, they maintain the illusion of justice while continuing to deny it.
President Biden’s decision came on Martin Luther King Jr. Day; a day meant to honor justice and equality. Yet true justice would have meant unconditional freedom. Peltier’s case is more than one man’s struggle; it represents the larger fight for Indigenous rights, recognition, and dignity. His sacrifices will be remembered long after he is gone.
His daughter, Kathy, was in shock when she heard the news. “I’m just thankful that he had the balls and the guts to do it,” she said. Meanwhile, the family of one of the slain agents called the decision an insult to law enforcement, and FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned it, calling it a betrayal of justice.
But what justice? The justice that denied Peltier a fair trial? The justice that suppressed evidence? The justice that targeted Indigenous activists for demanding their rights?
Over the years, Peltier’s case has drawn global attention. Musicians, activists, and politicians have demanded his release. Rage Against the Machine’s song “Freedom” introduced his story to a new generation. Now, at 80 years old and in failing health, he will finally leave federal prison.
Tribes across America, including the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community of Minnesota, whose mission is “Preserving, Protecting and Promoting the Dakota Culture for Future Generations“ are rejoicing at the news that Leonard Peltier will be released soon.
In my opinion, the fight is not over. Until Leonard Peltier is truly free, until the United States fully acknowledges its injustices against Indigenous peoples, the struggle continues. As Native communities welcome him home, the government must answer: Why did it take nearly 50 years to act? Why must Peltier remain under house arrest? And will America ever truly reckon with its past?
Mat writes about social issues, current events, the government and Indigenous rights.