The Unjust Incarceration of an Indigenous Man: 37 Years and Counting for a Nonviolent Crime

In the annals of American injustice, the case of Leonard Peltier stands as a particularly egregious example of the systemic racism and inequality that pervades the criminal justice system. Peltier, an Indigenous man, has spent 37 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. His conviction was based on flimsy evidence and tainted by prosecutorial misconduct. Despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence, Peltier has been denied parole time and time again.

Peltier's story is a microcosm of the injustices that Indigenous people have faced for centuries in the United States. They have been subjected to genocide, forced assimilation, and systemic discrimination. The criminal justice system is no exception. Indigenous people are disproportionately represented in the prison population, and they are more likely to be convicted of crimes they did not commit.

The Nine Lives of John Aslin: True Story of an Indigenous Man Imprisoned 37 Years and Counting for a Nonviolent Crime

by Jill Creech Bauer

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3094 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	260 pages
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Peltier's case is a powerful indictment of the American criminal justice system. It is a system that is stacked against the poor, the marginalized, and the Indigenous. It is a system that values punishment over rehabilitation and that perpetuates a cycle of violence and despair.

Peltier's story is also a story of hope. Despite the decades he has spent in prison, he has never given up on his fight for justice. He has become a symbol of resilience and hope for Indigenous people and for all those who are fighting for a more just world.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to free Peltier. Amnesty International has called for his release, and a bipartisan group of members of Congress have introduced a resolution urging the President to grant him clemency.

It is time for the United States to right this wrong. It is time to free Leonard Peltier.

The Crime

On June 26, 1975, two FBI agents were killed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Peltier was one of several people who were arrested in connection with the killings.

The prosecution's case against Peltier was based on the testimony of a single eyewitness, Myrtle Poor Bear. Poor Bear claimed that she had seen Peltier shoot one of the agents. However, Poor Bear's testimony was later recanted. She said that she had been pressured by the FBI to lie.

Other evidence against Peltier was also flimsy. Ballistics tests showed that the gun that was used to kill the agents was not the same gun that Peltier had been carrying. And there was no physical evidence linking Peltier to the crime scene.

Despite the lack of evidence, Peltier was convicted of murder and sentenced to two life terms in prison.

The Wrongful Conviction

In the years since Peltier's conviction, numerous pieces of evidence have emerged that cast doubt on his guilt.

* In 1978, an FBI informant named John Trudell claimed that he had been present at the shooting and that Peltier was not involved. * In 1980, a ballistics expert testified that the gun that was used to kill the agents was not the same gun that Peltier had been carrying. * In 1985, a former FBI agent named Gordon Kahl claimed that he had seen Peltier being tortured by FBI agents.

Despite this new evidence, Peltier's conviction has never been overturned.

The Fight for Justice

Peltier has never given up on his fight for justice. He has filed numerous appeals and has petitioned the President for clemency.

In 2009, a federal judge Free Downloaded a new trial for Peltier. However, the government appealed the decision, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the judge's ruling.

Peltier's case is now before the Supreme Court. His lawyers are asking the Court to review the Eighth Circuit's decision and to Free Download a new trial.

Peltier's fight for justice has been supported by a growing number of people around the world. Amnesty International has called for his release, and a bipartisan group of members of Congress have introduced a resolution urging the President to grant him clemency.

It is time for the United States to right this wrong. It is time to free Leonard Peltier.

How You Can Help

There are several things you can do to help free Leonard Peltier:

* Write to your elected officials and urge them to support the resolution calling for Peltier's release. * Contact the White House and ask the President to grant Peltier clemency. * Donate to organizations that are working to free Peltier. * Spread the word about Peltier's case and the injustice that he has endured.

Together, we can make a difference. We can help to free Leonard Peltier and to create a more just world for all.

The Nine Lives of John Aslin: True Story of an Indigenous Man Imprisoned 37 Years and Counting for a Nonviolent Crime

by Jill Creech Bauer

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3094 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	260 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE