Leonard Peltier Birthday Letter From Prison
By Leonard Peltier for Popular Resistance - Well, today is another b-day for me — my 71st. I had hoped I would not be here at this age, but that's not to be. So, I have to take a deep breathe and slowly let it out… and prepare myself for yet another day in here.
February 6th marks my 40th year in prison. Hey, did you know that the last time I went before the Parole Commission (2009), I was denied because I looked young and healthy… and a reason given for denying me parole was that I might be too much of an influence on the young Natives? Yeah, only in America. I've been encouraged by things I've read recently though. And looking back… It's been over 60 years, maybe a little longer. I was around 7 or 8 years old when I heard the old People talking about taking care of Mother Earth. But for me anyway, as with all young People, I did not really understand what they were trying to tell us, I guess? We spoke out against the destruction of Mother Earth, we were called a bunch of nuts. Well, today, it is called climate change, and there are now millions of us crying out against the destruction of out Mother Earth. Amazing, huh? Thankfully I have lived this long and can see we just might win this war.