Native American activist Leonard Peltier released from US prison
Supporters celebrate the release of an Indigenous activist imprisoned for killing of FBI agents after a flawed trial.
Native American activist Leonard Peltier has left a Florida prison after nearly five decades behind bars, following a commutation from former United States President Joe Biden.
On Tuesday morning, Peltier walked out of a federal detention centre in Coleman, Florida, and was taken away by an SUV. He did not speak as he exited the prison.
list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3 âLast chanceâ: Activist Leonard Peltierâs family reflects on life in prison
list 2 of 3 Biden commutes most federal death sentences before Trump term
list 3 of 3 Biden commutes nearly 1,500 sentences, pardons 39 people
end of listPeltier, 80, had become a global symbol for Indigenous rights after his 1977 conviction for murder, with groups like Amnesty International and supporters like actor Robert Redford calling for his freedom.
A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Peltier has long maintained his innocence, and advocates argue his trial was botched.
âToday I am finally free! They may have imprisoned me but they never took my spirit!â Peltier said in a statement, released by the NDN Collective, an activist group. âI look forward to seeing my friends, my family, and my community. Itâs a good day today.â
He will return home to Turtle Mountain Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota, where a homecoming celebration is planned on Wednesday.
Advertisement
âWeâre so excited for this moment,â Jenipher Jones, one of Peltierâs lawyers, told The Associated Press. âHe is in good spirits. He has the soul of a warrior.â
American Indian Movement member Leonard Peltier was serving two life sentences for the 1975 murder of two FBI agents [File: Cliff Schiappa/AP Photo]Peltier was convicted in the 1975 killing of two agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
The FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, had been at the reservation to serve an arrest warrant.
But upon arriving at the Jumping Bull Ranch, they entered into a shootout with members of the American Indian Movement (AIM), including Peltier. As many as 30 people were present at the shootout.
Several AIM members were arrested in the aftermath and charged with the agentsâ murder. Two, Robert Robideau and Darrelle Butler, were tried but ultimately acquitted on the grounds of self-defence.
Peltier fled to Canada but was ultimately extradited for trial in the US.
While Peltier has acknowledged he did fire his gun in self-defence, he has repeatedly denied shooting and killing the agents. Prosecutors have alleged the agents were shot in the head at point-blank range; Peltier has said he was not near them at the time of their deaths.
Supporters have also argued that the 1977 trial against Peltier was deeply flawed, citing suppressed evidence.
In addition, a woman who testified that she had seen Peltier shoot the agents later stated that she had been coerced into doing so and rescinded her testimony.
Advertisement
During the period when the shooting took place, the FBI had carried out efforts to harass and surveil Native American activist organisations, along with other civil rights groups across the country.
For Peltierâs supporters, his nearly half-century-long incarceration is a symbol of a double standard in the justice system.
Members of his family have also called for a compassionate release on health grounds: Peltier is now partly blind and suffers from health issues such as diabetes and heart trouble.
âI know he wonât make it to his next parole with the conditions heâs living under. He wonât make it that long,â Pamela Bravo, one of Peltierâs relatives, told Al Jazeera last year.
But the prospect of releasing Peltier has long been divisive, with FBI and law enforcement groups adamantly opposing his freedom.
Ahead of a parole hearing last year, then-FBI director Christopher Wray called his potential release âan affront to the rule of lawâ.
âPeltier has never accepted responsibility or shown remorse,â Wray wrote. âHe is wholly unfit for parole.â
Wray reiterated those sentiments in a personal letter to President Biden, calling Peltier a âremorseless killerâ.
But other members of Bidenâs administration, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, pushed for Peltierâs freedom.
There was also international pressure: Figures such as the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis have joined calls for his release.
Ultimately, in the final hours of his presidency on January 20, Biden commuted Peltierâs sentence.
Advertisement
A commutation, however, is no pardon, and Peltier will continue to live under house arrest.
âWe never thought he would get out,â Ray St Clair, a member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, said shortly before Peltierâs release. âIt shows you should never give up hope. We can take this repairing the damage that was done. This is a start.â
Kevin Spacey lashes out with a sarcastic response video after 'L.A. Confidential' co-star Guy Pearce answers a podcast host's question about working with Spacey.
Read more >> : Cick here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
LOVE Island star Olivia Hawkins didnât look happy with a co-star during a tense All Stars final moment. The actress and TV personality, 29, returned to the villa for All Stars after appearingâŚ
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Taylor Swift is reportedly very upset with Blake Lively and is stepping back from their friendship amid Justin Baldoni scandal.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Chris "Mad Dog" Russo said this week that the on-ice fights between USA and Canada in the 4 Nations Face Off had a "WWE feel" to them.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The White Lotus creator Mike Whiteâs Survivor season 37 costars Natalie Cole and Carl Boudreaux made surprising cameos during a dinner scene in the show's season three premiere.Â
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
)
Pedro Pascal made his SNL return over the weekend
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
&description=Pedro Pascal shares epic BTS photo of Domingo skit with Sabrina Carpenter and Marcello Hernandez Pedro Pascal made his SNL return over the weekend %23bts) |
|
|
Watch as Donald Trump provides an update on peace talks with Russia over Ukraine.He tells reporters he would not object to European nations stationing troops in Ukraine.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The only currency that seems to matter to the White House is power, and both Kyiv and its European partners are looking all too weak.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
DONALD Trump has warned that Europe sending troops to Ukraine after a peace deal could end up in a catastrophic World War Three. The US president has also called for Ukraine to hold fresh electionsâŚ
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Roberta Laundrie's "Burn After Reading" letter.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
LOVE Island winner Mimii Ngulube has broken her silence on splitting from Josh Oyinsan, revealing sheâs âmoved onâ from their relationship. Mimii, 24, and Josh, 30, won over viewers with their romaâŚ
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
BTS's J-Hope recently posted part of his birthday celebration on Instagram where Jin appeared to give him gifts and post on Weverse.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Nova Twins, Krept and Konan, Odeal, Darkoo and Bashy are among the performers at the ceremony hosted by Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
Twitter (X) is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 619 million monthly active users worldwide. One of the most exciting features of Twitter (X) is the ability to see what topics are trending in real-time. Twitter trends are a fascinating way to stay up to date on what people are talking about on the platform, and they can also be a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to stay relevant and informed. In this article, we will discuss Twitter (X) trends, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are a list of topics that are currently being talked about on the platform and also world. The topics on this list change in real-time and are based on the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be localized to a Worldwide country or region or can be global, depending on the topic's popularity.
How Do Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends Work?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are generated by an algorithm that analyzes the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. When the algorithm detects a sudden increase in tweets using a specific hashtag or keyword, it considers that topic to be trending.
Once a topic is identified as trending, it is added to the list of Twitter (X) Worldwide trends. The topics on this list are ranked based on their popularity, with the most popular topics appearing at the top of the list.
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be filtered by location or category, allowing users to see what topics are trending in their area or in a particular industry. Additionally, users can click on a trending topic to see all of the tweets using that hashtag or keyword.
