Campaign to Free Leonard Peltier Continues as the Native American Activist Spends His 30th Year in Prison

Interview with Barry Bachrach, attorney for Native American activist and political prisoner Leonard Peltier, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

Feb. 6 marked the beginning of Native American activist Leonard Peltier's 30th year behind bars. Peltier was convicted of murdering two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Lakota Sioux reservation in June 1975. The incident was made famous in fiction and non-fiction films as well as Peter Matthiessen's book, "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse." The murders took place during a state of siege on the reservation when the federal government collaborated with a corrupt tribal government against Indians observing a traditional way of life with the support of American Indian Movement members.

After the confrontation, Peltier fled to Canada, where he was extradited back to the U.S. based on perjured testimony. Two others charged in the murders of the FBI agents were acquitted based on a claim of self-defense. Peltier's trial was rife with government misconduct, which later came to light in documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, although several thousand documents are still being withheld. His supporters waged an intensive campaign to convince former President Bill Clinton to grant Peltier clemency, but the outgoing democratic president declined to do so.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Peltier's lawyer, Barry Bachrach, who discusses efforts currently under way to free his client.

Contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee at (785) 842-5774 or visit the Committee's website at www.leonardpeltier.org

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