Relying in your stage of familiarity with the music and message of pioneering multi-platinum rap steel outfit Rage Towards The Machine, the identify Leonard Peltier might imply one thing to you.
An indigenous rights activist with the American Indian Motion, Peltier was sentenced to 2 consecutive life phrases for the primary diploma homicide of two FBI brokers throughout a shootout again in 1975 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The 2 brokers had been mentioned to have been in search of to apprehend a separate particular person unrelated to Peltier on the time.
These deaths befell amid an armed shootout with a number of people, one in every of which was recognized by authorities as being Peltier, who had earlier run-ins with the legislation earlier than. Whereas Peltier was in the end convicted, two different people arrested in connection to the taking pictures, Robert Robideau, and Darrelle “Dino” Butler had been acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.
Earlier than being apprehended, Peltier fled to Canada and was extradited on the deserves of an announcement given a witness who later recanted her statements and claimed they had been made underneath coercion by the FBI. Per varied scrutiny that has since been solid within the a long time since, the case offered in opposition to Peltier additionally included varied conflicting and problematic proof and contradictory statements, together with suppressed and withheld paperwork that had been categorized for ‘nationwide safety considerations.’
Peltier would later escape from jail in 1979, earlier than being apprehended days later, after having stolen a truck and belongings from a farmer and making an escape. He was subsequently sentenced to a further 5 years for the jail escape and two extra years for a firearms possession violation.
Peltier has steadily denied being the person who dedicated the murders and first turned eligible for parole again in 1993. Nevertheless, his makes an attempt to be free from jail have been repeatedly been denied till at the moment, January twentieth, when the 80-year-old activist’s sentence was commuted to indefinite home arrest by outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden.
Rage Towards The Machine started actively championing for Peltier‘s launch again within the early 90s, dedicating “Freedom“, the fourth and remaining single from their 3x multi-platinum 1992 self-titled album, to his trigger. Its accompanying music video championed for Peltier‘s launch, interspersed with footage of the band performing in entrance of a backdrop which said “Freedom For Peltier”.
Via the video, onscreen textual content tells of impoverished reserves and harassment and abuse from FBI ‘goon squads’ among the many indigenous peoples, together with lots of of individuals having been overwhelmed or murdered prior.
It additionally mentions a clandestine program performed by the FBI alleged to have aimed to ‘neutralize’ the leaders of the American Indian Motion, with the intention to defend the established order and guarantee doubtlessly profitable mining leases may very well be obtained on indigenous lands.
In mild of Peltier‘s launch from jail, a number of members of Rage Towards The Machine took to social media to touch upon the information.
Tom Morello (guitars):
“LEONARD PELTIER IS GOING HOME!! For nearly 5 a long time human rights organizations, Native American activists, common on a regular basis folks and bands like RATM have lobbied for the discharge of political prisoner Leonard Peltier. Leonard has develop into a good friend through the years and I’m so glad at 80 years previous and sick he’ll be capable of spend his remaining years with household and pals. For this MASSIVE RIFF MONDAY there might be just one alternative, RATM’s “FREEDOM” whose video uncovered a brand new era to this historic injustice.”
Brad Wilk (drums):
“After nearly 50 years of unjust incarceration, clemency was lastly granted to Leonard Peltier! From way back to the primary RATM video which marks his story and the incident at Oglala to marching within the streets of NY on the finish of Clintons time period and past we’ve got been hoping for today of clemency and Justice for Peltier to lastly come. The necklace in slide (7) was made for me in jail by Leonard. He made one for all 4 of us after we launched the Freedom video. Unreal…. Feels bitter candy… however clemency will lastly be served for Leonard Peltier.”
