Leonard Peltier (born in 1944) is a Native American activist of mostly Ojibwa descent. He became a prominent figure in indigenous rights activism in North America. In 1977, he was convicted of murdering two FBI agents, a case that stirred controversy due to irregularities in his extradition and trial.
Peltier was an active member of the American Indian Movement (AIM), which protested government policies affecting Native peoples. The FBI agents’ deaths occurred during a 1975 shootout on the Jumping Bull Ranch, where Peltier and other AIM members were present.
His conviction has been challenged due to concerns about evidence fabrication and witness coercion. Supporters consider him a political prisoner and have spent decades lobbying for his release. Peltier’s life sentence was commuted by Pres. Joe Biden in January 2025, and he was released from prison the following month.