{"id":127562,"date":"2025-03-18T11:46:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=127562"},"modified":"2025-03-18T11:46:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:46:30","slug":"peoples-world-indigenous-coalition-celebrates-release-of-leonard-peltier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/18\/peoples-world-indigenous-coalition-celebrates-release-of-leonard-peltier\/","title":{"rendered":"People’s World: Indigenous coalition celebrates release of Leonard Peltier"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Indigenous<\/a>
The Indigenous Peoples Coalition celebrates the release of American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 22, 2025. Photo Courtesy of John Partipilo<\/a>
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Nashville event celebrates Leonard Peltier\u2019s release <\/div>\r\n
Tuesday, March 18, 2025<\/div>\r\n
By Albert Bender<\/div>\r\n
People's World<\/div>\r\n
peoplesworld.org<\/A><\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nNASHVILLE, Tennessee — The Indigenous Peoples Coalition (IPC) held a celebration of the release of long imprisoned Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier on February 22, just days after he gained his freedom.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe keynote speaker at the celebration was Nashville attorney and former federal judge Kevin Sharp. Sharp is Peltier\u2019s attorney and filed the petition for clemency that was signed by then-President Joe Biden on January 20 in the last minutes in office. The Nashville gathering assumed special significance as the city is the residence of Sharp.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe celebration at the Social Justice Hall of the First Unitarian Universalist Church was attended by a cross-section of the people, representing the diversity of present-day Nashville. There were long-time activists, advocates for Peltier\u2019s freedom, and others just becoming acquainted with the case. The venue was filled to near capacity.\r\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2018I\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u2018I am finally going home\u2019: Leonard Peltier released from prison after nearly five decades\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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After spending nearly 50 years behind bars, American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier is finally free.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"Indianz.Com\"\t\tIndianz.Com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSharp gave an insightful background to the struggle for Peltier\u2019s release that was both informative and fascinating. This included: the improper court venue in Fargo, North Dakota, where Peltier was first convicted; former President Bill Clinton\u2019s episodic contact with the clemency request; the suspicious circumstances of the shooting at the Pine Ridge Reservation in June 1975; the prejudiced juror allowed at Peltier\u2019s trial; the discrepancy in the vehicle allegedly chased by the two slain federal agents that precipitated the shootout; and the circumstances by which Sharp took Peltier\u2019s case.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nEspecially intriguing, as related by Sharp, was the part played by Pope Francis in the matter. Sharp said that a last-minute phone call was made to the Pope in the middle of the night Italian time awakening the pontiff from his slumber requesting that he make a call on Peltier\u2019s behalf to Biden. Pope Francis promptly called Biden, and Sharp felt that this was a \u201cfurther pivotal factor\u201d in winning the release.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nSharp took the case pro bono after receiving a copy of the trial transcripts from Connie Nelson, the ex-wife of the music icon, Wille Nelson. After reviewing the case, Sharp said he was \u201coutraged.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\nAt the event, there was a poster fashioned by an IPC member emblazoned with the words, \u201cWelcome Home, Leonard.\u201d It featured pictures of Peltier, and attendees were invited to sign. It will be sent to Peltier at his home.\r\n

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Executive Grant of Clemency to Leonard Peltier. Signed by JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., President of the United States of America, on January 19, 2025. #LeonardPeltier<\/a> #JoeBiden<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZEszORhjhy<\/a><\/p>— indianz.com (@indianz) January 20, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>