Freedom for Leonard Peltier Urged at National Day of Mourning at Plymouth Rock

Freedom for Leonard Peltier Urged at National Day of Mourning at Plymouth Rock

      Chali'Naru Dones, United Confederation of Taino People. Screenshot by Censored News.

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, November 28, 2024

During a day of revealing the genocide and slavery that the United States government is founded on, those gathered at the National Day of Mourning at Plymouth Rock urged release of Leonard Peltier, America's longest incarcerated political prisoner.

"Peltier is a political prisoner in a country that denies it has political prisoners," Chali'Naru Dones, Massachusetts representative for the United Confederation of Taino People, told hundreds of people gathered in the rain on Thursday to oppose the myth of the pilgrim's thanksgiving.

"Leonard Peltier is now 80 years old. For nearly five decades Indigenous activists organizers and allies have rallied behind the fight to free Leonard Peltier," Dones said.

"Numerous constitutional violations took place throughout Leonard Peltier's trial, during which he experienced obvious racism. He has had ongoing health concerns and his status as an elder is fragile. He should have been released years ago."

"It's hard to fathom and grasp how we're all once again in Plymouth for another year advocating for his release, at another National Day of Mourning."

"A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, Peltier is a political prisoner in a country that denies it has political prisoners. He has been incarcerated since his arrest in 1976."

"Leonard has dedicated his life to standing up for and defending Native people. After a shootout occurred on Pine Ridge Indian reservation in 1975, Leonard Peltier was framed up for the deaths of two FBI agents there."

"There it has long been known that the prosecutors of his case engaged in misconduct, including the fact that the prosecutors, the FBI concealed ballistics reports, that showed Leonard's gun did not fire those shots."

"This miscarriage of justice is why there are prosecutors -- including former US Attorney James Reynolds, who have asked President Biden to free Leonard."

"Reynolds was the lead prosecuting attorney on Leonard's trial and appeal and even he came to understand that the trial and conviction were unjust and racist."

"Leonard suffers from multiple medical conditions and has frequently experienced medical neglect in prison."

"He is now the longest surviving political prisoner in the entire United States."

"He didn't choose this martyrdom of his life. He was taken against his will and is incarcerated by a system that was built and created to destroy Native, Black, and Latino people."

"His freedom directly ties to Indigenous demands for Liberation."

"Peltier had a parole hearing last June, after more than a decade since the previous hearing, and once again, he was turned down by the Federal Bureau of Prisons."

"He has held that Coleman U.S. Penitentiary is an accurate reflection of how little respect and dignity the United States government has for native people."

"He should have been paroled long ago. He should have been on a compassionate release long ago. Right now we must continue to fight for him and push Joe Biden to write this wrong and free Leonard Peltier."

With the sounds of 'Free Peltier," and with the rain coming down, she closed with, "Water is Life."

Listen to the statements: https://www.youtube.com/live/pdpBNKI31TA

Censored News Series: National Day of Mourning

Leonard Peltier's Statement to the National Day of Mourning
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/12/leonard-peltiers-words-for-national-day.html

Freedom for Leonard Peltier urged at National Day of Mourning
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/12/freedom-for-leonard-peltier-urged-at.html

In the Legacy of Her Grandfather, Tisha James Destroys the Myth of the Pilgrims Thanksgiving
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/11/in-her-grandfathers-legacy-kisha-james.html

Palestinians and Native People: Unity and Revolution at Plymouth Rock
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/11/palestinians-and-native-people-unity.html

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