Free Leonard Peltier Now!

Call To Action petitions President Biden to end the 45 year imprisonment of American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Leonard Peltier. CTA's Indigenous Solidarity Collective has written this petition with the endorsement of our Vision Council.

Many groups have petitioned for clemency for Peltier, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. He has been eligible for parole since 1993. CTA now joins these voices calling for his release.

Image of Leonard Peltier

Mr. President:

Call To Action (CTA USA) is a Catholic organization committed to promoting the principles of Catholic Social Teaching initiated by the encyclical of Pope Leo XIII in 1891 (Rerum Novarum).

As faithful Catholics, we call on you to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier and allow him to return to his family. Leonard has been in prison for 45 years, convicted on questionable evidentiary and procedural circumstances. He is now 77 years old and suffering from various comorbidities, including the aftereffects of COVID-19. He should be returned to his people where he can receive adequate and compassionate care.

We understand that there are numerous petitions before you from a wide range of individuals and organizations which have outlined the details of Leonard’s case that justify the granting of clemency. Most recently, the Democratic National Committee unanimously endorsed a detailed petition for the granting of clemency to Leonard Peltier.

We understand that your administration is launching an historic investigation into the lasting social impacts — such as historical and intergenerational trauma — of the federal Indian boarding school system that separated Mr. Peltier from his family at a young age. The granting of clemency to Leonard at this time would seem to be in line with this effort to acknowledge and repair some of the harm done by the United States Government in the treatment of indigenous people.

Mr. President, you have the power, the responsibility, and the moral imperative based on your own faith tradition to free Leonard Peltier on compassionate grounds. It is up to you to do the right thing.

Marian Fredal

Christa Kerber

Amy Sheber Howard

and the Indigenous Solidarity Collective

Sincerely,

Call To Action Vision Council: 

Lauren Barbato

Debra Brittenum

Fred Dabrowski