Depending on your level of familiarity with the music and message of pioneering multi-platinum rap metal outfit Rage Against The Machine, the name Leonard Peltier may mean something to you.
An indigenous rights activist with the American Indian Movement, Peltier was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the first-degree murder of two FBI agents during a shootout back in 1975 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The two agents were said to have been seeking to apprehend a separate individual unrelated to Peltier at the time.
Those deaths took place amid an armed shootout with several individuals, one of which was identified by authorities as being Peltier, who had previous run-ins with the law before. While Peltier was ultimately convicted, two other individuals arrested in connection to the shooting, Robert Robideau, and Darrelle “Dino” Butler were acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.
Before being apprehended, Peltier fled to Canada and was extradited on the merits of a statement given a witness who later recanted her statements and claimed they were made under coercion by the FBI. Per various scrutiny that has since been cast in the decades since, the case presented against Peltier also included various conflicting and problematic evidence and contradictory statements, along with suppressed and withheld documents that were classified for ‘national security concerns.’
Peltier would later escape from prison in 1979, before being apprehended days later, after having stolen a truck and belongings from a farmer and going on the lamb. He was subsequently sentenced to an additional five years for the prison escape and two more years for a firearms possession violation.
Peltier has frequently denied being the individual who committed the murders and first became eligible for parole back in 1993. However, his attempts to be free from jail have been repeatedly been denied until today, January 20th, when the 80-year-old activist’s sentence was commuted to indefinite house arrest by outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden.
Rage Against The Machine began actively championing for Peltier‘s release back in the early 90s, dedicating “Freedom“, the fourth and final single from their 3x multi-platinum 1992 self-titled album, to his cause. Its accompanying music video championed for Peltier‘s release, interspersed with footage of the band performing in front of a backdrop which stated “Freedom For Peltier”.
Through the video, onscreen text tells of impoverished reserves and harassment and abuse from FBI ‘goon squads’ among the indigenous peoples, along with hundreds of people having been beaten or murdered prior.
It also mentions a clandestine program conducted by the FBI alleged to have aimed to ‘neutralize’ the leaders of the American Indian Movement, in order to protect the status quo and ensure potentially lucrative mining leases could be obtained on indigenous lands.
In light of Peltier‘s release from prison, several members of Rage Against The Machine took to social media to comment on the news.
Tom Morello (guitars):
“LEONARD PELTIER IS GOING HOME!! For almost 5 decades human rights organizations, Native American activists, average everyday people and bands like RATM have lobbied for the release of political prisoner Leonard Peltier. Leonard has become a friend over the years and I am so glad at 80 years old and in poor health he will be able to spend his remaining years with family and friends. For this MASSIVE RIFF MONDAY there can be only one choice, RATM’s “FREEDOM” whose video exposed a new generation to this historical injustice.”
Brad Wilk (drums):
“After almost 50 years of unjust incarceration, clemency was finally granted to Leonard Peltier! From as far back as the first RATM video which marks his story and the incident at Oglala to marching in the streets of NY at the end of Clintons term and beyond we have been hoping for this day of clemency and Justice for Peltier to finally come. The necklace in slide (7) was made for me in jail by Leonard. He made one for all four of us after we released the Freedom video. Unreal…. Feels bitter sweet… but clemency will finally be served for Leonard Peltier.”
