Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians join call for Peltier’s parole

PRESS RELEASE
7/14/09
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
Contact:
Eric Seitz, 808-533-7434 or
Kari Ann Cowan, 701-235-2206 or 701-278-2968

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians join call for Peltier’s parole

Characterizing U.S. political prisoner Leonard Peltier’s continued incarceration as “a sad commentary on the US government and the humanitarian values Americans profess,” Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined thousands of people around the world in writing to the U.S. Parole Commission on Peltier’s behalf.

Tutu’s July 8 letter expresses “deep hope that your commission will grant parole and release to Leonard Peltier.”

Peltier’s home reservation, Turtle Mountain, cited Peltier’s health and political status in calling on the commissioners to release the 64-year-old American Indian Movement activist.

In a July 7 letter signed by reservation council member Cindy L. Malaterre, Turtle Mountain states that “it is time for you to end the chapter to this tragic event and release our tribal member, who is now an elder, who needs to come home to live out his remaining days on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, where his friends, family and tribe live.”

Peltier, who has served more than 33 years in federal prison, is scheduled for a full parole hearing on July 28, his first since 1993.

Under federal parole commission regulations, prisoners are subject to mandatory release after serving 30 years, unless they have committed serious offenses in prison or pose a significant threat to violate the law.

Peltier has an exemplary prison disciplinary record and is a six-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee due to his humanitarian efforts and commitment to justice for the world’s indigenous peoples.