don't send cards to murderers of Federal employees......but YMMV.......

..and I'd point out this (since you bring up murdered federal employees):

November 1, 1950, an attempt was made on the life of President Harry Truman that led to the death of White House Police Officer Leslie Coffelt, and the injury of two others. Would-be assassin Griselio Torresola was killed, while his partner, Oscar Collazo was tried and sentenced to death. Harry Truman, the target of the attempt, commuted Collazo's sentence to life based on the signifigance of the Puerto Rican independence movement. Jimmy Carter ultimately commuted Collazo's sentence to time-served. I'd assert that the AIM is at least as valid an independence movement as the Puerto Rican separatist movement, and that the murder of the FBI agent should be seen in its political context. It is also worthwhile to note that the Pine Ridge uprising was over 40 years ago.

You can find out more about the facts in the Peltier case here: http://www.freeleonard.org/case/

case while a college student in North Dakota. I have yet to see anything that changes my mind and I am pretty committed to social justice causes. For example I think Mumia Abu-Jamal is innocent, but everything I have ever read about this case has confirmed my belief that the jury sent a cold blooded murderer to jail for life.

That's why I bring up Collazzo. The AIM uprising could be seen as analogous to the actions of the Puerto Rican separatists. It's not like the AIM was the SLA or the Manson family. They were a political movement acting on behalf of oppressed Americans. If Collazzo was allowed to walk, there's no reason Peltier shouldn't be set free.

Sorry that dog don't hunt. If you murder Federal agents you are scum.

..and the Feds have done more than their fair share of scummy things at Pine Ridge.

Just like the two FBI agents. But hey keep supporting the murderer, I don't really care. He will rot in jail.

Exactly what political movement was George Zimmerman supporting by shooting Trayvon Martin?

What a horribly pointless and inept comparison.

I understand now, you think being part of a political movement excuses murdering Federal agents in cold blood. Cliven Bundy, is that you?

The don't care for us Injuns. SD either.

Peltier's trial at all. I wasn't aware that Amnesty International, et al, advocated for common murderers. Consider me educated.

BTW I was at Pine Ridge during the troubles so I saw what the feds were doing with my own eyes. Look up COINTELPRO. You read about it, I lived it. Why no investigation whatsoever of the Lakota with them who was shot in the head by a federal agent sniper?

of more evidence against him....an entirely predictable consequence of his own hubris.

I went outside. FBI snipers everywhere. It was intense. I couldn't believe I was an American citizen living in America. It still scares me to think about it.

this Mexican married to a white woman.

I have never understood how this murderer has been made some sort of martyr.

What on earth does this have to do with Peltier's innocence? Talk about misdirection.

Or are you just trying to insinuate that I don't care about the lives of American Indians?

I'm among those who don't think it's clear that he murdered anyone, but , for the sake of discussion, let's go along with the court here. My post was not misdirection. On the contrary, it brings focus and context to the deaths of Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams in the larger context of an ongoing struggle between the US Government and the Oglala Sioux -- a struggle that has included the cold blooded massacre of Native Americans by government soldiers at Wounded Knee. One can't separate Peltier from the AIM -- a political movement that has, at times, resorted to violence. He's been "made some sort of martyr" because, in the minds of many, he's been imprisoned (for a crime he may well have not committed) while US Government soldiers and law enforcement have been allowed to kill with impunity for over two centuries.

Again, I'd point to the precedent set when Carter pardoned Colazzo, who participated in the murder of a White House policeman and the wounding of two others in the course of attempting to kill President Truman. It was ultimately decided that his crime was committed in the larger context of a struggle for independence by a segment of the people of Puerto Rico. He was allowed to leave prison after slightly less than 30 years served.

We're in 2014. The violence of the early-mid 70s in South Dakota is behind us. Russell means is gone, and Leonard Peltier is an old man. I seriously doubt he's going to kill anyone at this point. Let him leave for time served and go home to Pine Ridge.

So, the argument is that he has the right to kill Federal agents because his ancestors were killed by Federal agents? So can African Americans kill white Americans since millions of African American ancestors were enslaved, brutalized, and killed with impunity by white Americans? I have no idea what your racial heritage is, but would this include you too? I'm of Irish heritage. The British government has historically committed war crimes and acts of genocide against the Irish. Do the Irish have the right to kill British soldiers, policeman, and politicians? It's alright so long as it is claimed to be for political purposes? Was the IRA right then? I say the IRA was a terrorist organization. Do you?

You're entering an impossibly slippery slope. Every group of people have been victimized and killed by some other group of people historically. History is full of monstrous crimes and it is important to remember them, and seek to create a world where they are not repeated. The concept of historical revenge, however, will just continue the conflict forever. I am not saying that Native Americans don't have very legitimate grievances even today against the American government, but they have absolutely no right to be killing Federal agents. Period. That goes the same for any other group.

As to Peltier's guilt, I accept the jury's verdict. I'm not opposed to giving him a new trial since he insists it was so unfair. I suspect he will be found guilty again. I think he is indeed guilty. If he is guilty, he doesn't deserve celebration anymore than any other murderer.

No investigation. No nothing.

Definitely no justice.

he never received anything resembling a fair trial, given the federal government's contempt for the AIM.

up for that trial, yes?

he would and instead pardoned Marc Rich???

The way that was handled is the top reason why I'm not a Clinton fan.


Uncle Leonard will only be free when his spirit soars out of the concrete hell he resides in for being an Indian in a white man's world.

Inmates aren't allowed to have money?

It's my understanding that prisons don't allow you to mail or bring cash to a prisoner. You are supposed to deposit it in a prison account, for which there is a procedure. If you really want to send money, I'd ask the BOP.

Reading this thread makes me shake my head. The identity of the actual men who killed the two FBI agents is known. They've appeared, with identities "hidden," on national television. And Peter's book "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse," provides clues to their identity. Leonard was not one of them.