Proud, cheerful and emotional, Leonard Peltier thanks supporters for welcome home

“You know, I spent 45 years straight in prison for something I didn’t do and was not really, legally, convicted of. I didn’t think I was going to make it. I am 80 years old. The man that went in was 32.”

He spoke at the celebratory event organized by the NDN Collective at the Sky Dancer Event Center in Belcourt, North Dakota.

“I am proud of the positions I have taken to come help fight for our right to survival. I’m so proud of the showing and support you have given me. I’ve got a hard time keeping myself from crying.” At that point he paused, becoming emotional, that was greeted by a thunderous applause. He then recovered, cracking a joke,”I am also a strong believer that a strong warrior can’t be up here crying in front of his people.”

He continued in a more serious tone. “I was totally shocked and surprised to see all of you lined up there to welcome me home. You know, from day one, from the first hour I was arrested, Indian people came to my rescue from all over the country in the United States. And they have been behind me ever since. I got some restrictions that I got to do, but it’s a lot better than in a cell.”

Peltier was granted executive clemency and had the remainder of his sentence commuted by President Biden on January 20 of this year. He was released from prison the day before the event.

You can watch the full event on YouTube.