Leonard Peltier Walk to Begin Tomorrow on Alcatraz Island Led by Dennis Banks

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Alcatraz Island

SAN FRANCISCO - The Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights will begin on Alcatraz Island. The purpose of the walk is to bring attention to the imprisonment of Leonard Peltier, Turtle Mountain Ojibwa, who has been in prison for over 35 years.

He is in prison after his conviction of the 1975 killing of two FBI agents.

Peltier has been denied parole several times. The most recent in 2009 when the US Parole Commission denied parole for subjective, groundless reasons stating that Leonard's release would "depreciate the seriousness of the law" and that it would also "promote disrespect for the law".

Peltier will not appear before the US Parole Commission again until 2024.

Sunday, December 18

He is now 67 years old, and will be over 80 at his next Parole hearing! He has applied for and petitioned for his release, having met the criteria for release on parole after thirty years of incarceration, and was denied on procedural matters, disregarding the Parole Act of 2005.

The federal government itself admitted that they don't know who shot the two FBI agents on June 26, 1975 on the Pine Ridge Reservation of the Oglala, in South Dakota. Yet, Leonard Peltier remains in prison.

Peltier is in poor health, suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, loss of his eye-sight, and an overall decline in his physical health makes his release even more urgent. He lacks adequate medical care in prison.

In September of this year, Peltier was moved to a Florida Federal Penitentiary and is now further removed from his family and loved ones, denying them proximity, access and visiting rights. He is a great-grand father, and respected Elder in both prison and in our community.

Organizers of the Walk call on President Obama to assert his authority by providing an Executive Clemency.

People all over the world call for freedom for Peltier and desperately want to see him released. The call for Peltier's freedom is echoed by Bishop Desmund Tutu, Arch Bishop of Canterbury, Nelson Mandela, and over 50 member of the US Congress.

The Leonard Peltier Walk for Human Rights will conclude in Washington on May 18, 2012.

Those who wishing to go to Alcatraz Island should assemble at Pier #33 beginning at 8:00 am pst. The price for the early ferry to Alcatraz Island is $14. The next ferry boat will not leave until 9:10 am pst, and the price for this later ferry to Alcatraz Island is $26.

updated 4:45 pm est; posted December 17, 2011 7:00 am est