Leonard Peltier's Trial Case Study

Leonard Peltier was not as fortunate as his fellow AIM members. At his trial in 1977 the jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. His trial and verdict are still a contentious issue with people adamantly defending his innocence and others just as sure of his guilt. Peltier’s supporters point to a number of specific events at his trial, for instance, not allowing key witnesses to testify and, unlike the Robideau/Butler trial in Iowa, severely restricting information regarding the violence on Pine Ridge, as evidence that justice in this case was not impartial but deliberately weighted against him. As Robideau and Butler and already been cleared, Peltier was the government’s last opportunity to see someone pay the price for the deaths of the two FBI agents.
Regardless of whether this trial may be used as evidence for governmental bias, it does portray the governmental view of AIM. Before the hearing even began FBI agents would regularly scan the judge’s rooms for listening devices believed to have been put there by AIM. Curtains were installed on the bus that transported the jury and explained to them as a prevention against AIM members attempting to shoot them. An Indian woman along with a friend and their children were told by the …show more content…
Formed of hundreds or thousands of protestors these movements took to the streets and occupied buildings, seeking change, demanding reforms. The Native American movement was one of many and small in comparison to others but still accomplished some impressive goals on behalf of all Indians. They set out to be heard and they were. They sought to preserve the land they still possessed and they did. They needed to retain their culture and they did. A small group of determined people may have a far greater impact than their numbers would indicate. A small group of Indian men and women arose and took action. They were “Red