Tuesday, June 26, 2018

PELTIER: JUNE 26, 1975; 43 YEARS LATER

Dear Supporters:

Forty-three years ago today, June 26, 1975, FBI Special Agents Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams were performing their lawful duties on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation following who they believed was a fugitive. (Footnote 1)  What they encountered was an unprovoked attack by Leonard Peltier and other AIM members. One of the eyewitnesses to this attack, Ron Williams, was on the Bureau radio describing exactly what was about to happen. The Agents were caught in an open field and deadly crossfire. Severely wounded, both Agents were then summarily executed. 

Leonard Peltier escaped to Canada after a confrontation with Oregon State Troopers. On February 6, 1979, Peltier, then on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, was arrested by the RCMP and later extradited to stand trial in Fargo, North Dakota. Peltier was convicted and on June 2, 1977 was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. On July 20, 1979 Peltier participated in an armed escape from Lompoc federal prison during which guards were fired upon. He was arrested, convicted and received an additional seven consecutiveyears.  At an August 20, 2009 hearing, Peltier was denied parole and extended for an additional fifteen years until 2024. On January 18, 2017 President Obama denied Peltier’s clemency petition. (Fn. 2)

Over the years Peltier has maintained his innocence, claims to be a “political prisoner” and has made all manner of public statements that only reinforce his unrepentant and remorseless guilt. Peltier’s long standing and only real alibi, that the phantom Mr. X killed the Agents, was proven to be an unmitigated lie. (Fn. 3)

A simple solution to address Peltier’s claims is to thoroughly review the history of Peltier’s conviction and sentence: A conviction and sentence that has never been altered after numerous appeals, even reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. Offering just a few of those facts, please see some important reminders. (Fn 4)

“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods

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