Indigenous Rights Advocate Leonard Peltier to Be Honored at Community Celebration

Leonard Peltier, the indigenous activist whose sentence was commuted by former President Biden on January 19, will not be relocated to house arrest until next month. However, a local celebration to commemorate his clemency will take place this Sunday in Damascus, PA.

Peltier, who was active in the American Indian Movement, was sentenced to life in prison after the murders of two FBI agents in 1975 at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Peltier and his supporters maintained his innocence, although he did admit that he was present during the shootout

Sunday’s celebration will feature one of Peltier’s former lawyers Sheila Dugan of Milianville, PA, as the guest of honor. Radio Catskill’s Miguel Santiago Colon spoke with her about her long quest for justice for Peltier.

The event will take place at the Damascus Manor Community Center on Sunday, February 2, from 12:30 to 4:00 PM.

Image: Local lawyer Sheila Dugan holds a painting Peltier made for her from his prison cell in 2010. (Credit: Patricio Robayo)