Here’s an update the situation of Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who has been in jail for decades — he’s now in the U.S. Penitentiary, Coleman, north of Tampa; two events are planned for Peltier supporters this week in the Tampa Bay area.
There’s a rally on Tuesday in Tampa and a meet & greet with his attorney in St. Petersburg on Sunday.
Leonard Peltier is a 73-year old Native American activist who is imprisoned at the U.S. Penitentiary, Coleman north of Tampa. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1975 shooting of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. In 1977 he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.
In its 2010 Annual Report, Amnesty USA lists Peltier’s case under “Unfair Trials.”
Joining us in the studio were two supporters of Peltier. Paulette Dauteuil is director of the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, which is now located in Tampa and Sheridan Murphy of the American Indian Movement.
Listen to this segment of the show here:
Peltier applied for clemency from President Barack Obama, but it was not granted. His next scheduled parole hearing is 2024. He could also apply to Donald Trump for presidential clemency. Is that an avenue that might be pursued?
On Tuesday tthere’s a Free Peltier Rally from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse located at 801 North Florida Avenue in Tampa.
On Sunday in St. Petersburg the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee is hosting a “meet & greet” with Peltier’s lawyer. It’s from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at St. Pete Community Acupuncture,
1624 Central Ave.
In the beginning of the show we heard an MLK speech that criticizes consumerism and even vehicle ads. Certain bits from that speech were used in a Dodge Ram commercial during Sunday’s Super Bowl.
