SF Vigil For Leonard Peltier

The day began dark, raw, drizzly. The prayer vigil for political prisoner Leonard Peltier started at 6 a.m., just before sunrise here. It was then 9 a.m. at the Lewisburg Federal Prison in Pennsylvania, where Leonard Peltier’s first parole hearing in 15 years was getting under way.

In front of the Phillip Burton Federal Building on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco, metal barriers blocked off the vigil area from the rest of the plaza there. Various security personnel in various uniforms scrutinized those gathered for the vigil.

The dark tall building loomed over the vigilers like a prison, and their fenced off space resembled what’s called a “free speech area” these days.

Since most of the vigilers were the indigenous people of this land, the area actually resembled what’s still called a reservation.

Yet inside the gathering place there were stout hearted freedom loving people, bright vibrant colors, the aroma of sacred herbs, stirring words, uplifting drums and songs, the Spirits of Crazy Horse and Leonard Peltier.

By now the world knows that Leonard Peltier has been falsely imprisoned for 33 years. The government’s case against him for the killings of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975 has so many holes in it, that were it to come to trial today, it would quickly collapse into cold bitter ashes.

Nelson Mandela and Bishop Nelson Mandela are just two of the luminaries and millions of others who have been calling for his immediate release.

The San Francisco vigil, one of many held around the globe, came to be through the efforts of American Indian Movement West (AIMWEST.info). Around the world people were uniting to bring a day of justice to Leonard Peltier, after over 30 years of injustice for him, and over 500 for his people.

As noon approached, with skies lightening and hopes brightening, a prayer walk began around the federal fortress. Led by the spiritual leader, drumming and singing, people surrounded the sharp angled tower with everything that was missing from and wrong with its presence: community, caring, respect for all living things, consciousness of the connectedness of all, awareness of the hate and suffering the federal building represents and embodies.

After the prayer walk was completed, the circle continued inside the gathering place, the people brought together as one, the dead reservation space transformed into a living one of righteousness and resistance.

Then the word went out that Leonard Peltier’s parole hearing had gone on for over four hours, whereas a half hour is the usual time. He himself spoke at length. His lawyers were questioned for some time as well. There are new members of the parole board, Obama administration appointees.


All these were taken as positive signs. The parole board should make its decision within three weeks. Leonard Peltier has been waiting for 33 years, his people for over 500.

Free Leonard Peltier!