In a historic move, President Joe Biden has granted clemency to Leonard Peltier, a Native American rights activist who has been imprisoned for nearly five decades. Peltier’s case has long been a symbol of the US government’s troubled relationship with Native American communities and its own troubled past.

Peltier was convicted in 1977 of murdering two FBI agents during a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. However, his trial was marred by allegations of government misconduct, including the use of coerced testimony and the withholding of exculpatory evidence.

For years, Peltier’s supporters have argued that he was wrongly convicted and that the government’s case against him was built on lies. In 2003, the US 10th Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged that “the prosecution’s conduct in this case was reprehensible” and that “the FBI’s misconduct was egregious.”

Despite this, Peltier’s appeals were repeatedly denied, and he was left to languish in prison, his health deteriorating with each passing year. In recent years, his supporters have launched a renewed campaign for his release, citing his poor health and the injustices of his case.

Biden’s decision to grant clemency to Peltier is a significant departure from the policies of his predecessors, who had repeatedly denied Peltier’s appeals for mercy. The move is seen as a major victory for Native American rights activists and a significant step towards reconciliation between the US government and the communities it has harmed.

“Today, we celebrate a major victory for justice and human rights,” said a spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. “We are grateful to President Biden for taking this important step towards healing the wounds of the past. We look forward to the day when Leonard can finally return home to his family and community.”

Peltier’s release is expected to be met with widespread celebration across Native American communities, who have long seen him as a symbol of resistance against government oppression. As one supporter noted, “Leonard’s case has always been about more than just one man – it’s about the struggles of our people for justice, equality, and human rights.”

As Peltier prepares to finally walk free after nearly 50 years behind bars, his supporters are hailing Biden’s decision as a major milestone in the long struggle for justice and reconciliation.