Famed rock band Rage Against The Machine has publicly praised the commuted sentence of Indigenous rights activist Leonard Peltier. The “Killing In The Name” hitmakers have been championing the release of 80-year-old Pelter for decades.
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Before leaving office, former president Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s life sentence in favor of indefinite house arrest. The decision was made on Monday, January 20. Peltier has been eligible for parole since 1993.
The band recently took to Instagram to celebrate the activist’s release.
“Anger is a gift,” the caption of the post reads. “Leonard Peltier to be freed.”
For reference, the band dedicated the song “Freedom” from their self-titled 1992 album to Peltier. The track’s music video was also used to showcase Peltier’s case to the world.
Both Tom Morello and Brad Wilk have spoken about Peltier’s release on social media via their own accounts.
“For almost 5 decades human rights organizations, Native American activists, average everyday people and bands like RATM have lobbied for the release of political prisoner Leonard Peltier,” said Morello. “Leonard has become a friend over the years and I am so glad at 80 years old and in poor health he will be able to spend his remaining years with family and friends.”
“From as far back as the first RATM video which marks his story and the incident at Oglala to marching in the streets of NY at the end of Clinton’s term and beyond we have been hoping for this day of clemency and Justice for Peltier to finally come,” said Wilk.
Rage Against The Machine Members Celebrate the Decision to Commute Activist Leonard Peltier’s Sentence
Leonard Peltier has been in prison since the 1970s. Peltier is an indigenous rights activist and a member of the American Indian Movement (AIM). He was sentenced to two separate life sentences for the murder of two FBI agents that occurred during an armed shootout in 1975 in South Dakota.
Multiple people were involved in the shootout, including two individuals (Robert Robideau and Darrelle Butler) who were acquitted on grounds of self-defense. Peltier, who had previously had a history with the law, was convicted despite denying that he committed the murders. He has maintained that position for decades. Peltier escaped from prison in 1979 but was apprehended and received seven additional years added to his sentence.
Since his arrest, quite a few people and organizations have scrutinized Peltier’s conviction. A number of fellow activists and organizations have claimed that there was conflicting evidence in his case, as well as contradictory stories and suppressed documents that were hidden or withheld for “national security reasons”.
Peltier is set to be released in February of this year.
Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images
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