Leonard Peltier on Passing of Nelson Mandela: Apartheid Still Exists in America
NELSON MANDELA 1918 – 2013
On the Passing of Nelson Mandela From Leonard Peltier – December 5, 2013
Leonard Peltier has been in prison for 37 years
COLEMAN, FLORIDA – Leonard Peltier, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who has been imprisoned for the past 37 years, issued statement on the passing of former South Africa President Nelson Mandela.
Peltier is serving a life sentence in the U.S. Penitentiary in Coleman, Florida. He was accused of the 1975 murders of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He was convicted in 1977.
Many people consider Leonard Peltier a political prisoner of war, as was Mr. Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years.
Here is Peltier’s statement released shortly after Mr. Mandela’s death was announced:
Greeting my relatives, friends, and supporters:
It saddens me to hear that a great man like Nelson Mandela has departed from this lifetime. He was a man who was truly inspirational and showed us the possibilities of how a continued struggle by indigenous people could manifest itself in levels of freedom that have been marred by centuries of oppression.
Our Native people suffered the same types of oppression many times. It is not as overt and as easily distinguished as in some places; however, if you are dead because a policeman shot you, or dead because you could not stand the racial and cultural genocide, so you committed suicide– you are just as dead either away.
Nelson Mandela is known for leading the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. America talked about ending apartheid and put sanctions on South Africa. Not being all that adept at the English language, it is my understanding that (apartheid) means to keep someone apart from something; my people have been kept apart purposely from the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota. There was, and still are, measures that keep us apart from our true history, perpetrated by an education system that limits the truth of our being.
Right now, here in America, right now in Canada, right now in South America, there is apartheid that seeks to separate us from our sacred places, our lands, and our resources.
Right now in Canada Native people are struggling to protect their aboriginal lands from fracking which destroys the water tables and disturbs the natural balance of the Earth. Right now with an apartheid mentality, they seek to build pipelines across Native lands that have the potential of great ecological destruction. Right now there is an apartheid that seeks to separate us from the protection of the constitution of the United States which says treaty law is the supreme law of the land; which also says you have a right to an unbiased fair trial; which also says you have a right to a jury of your peers. Right now our young Native people are tried as adults THREE times more than other groups and kept apartheid from their families and kept apartheid from competent legal representation.
I could go on and on, but you can see where I am heading with this. The struggle from apartheid, I am sure, is not over in South Africa, nor is the struggle against apartheid and slavery over in America.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison
We must all consider Nelson Mandela an inspiration, but I am also inspired by the least of our people who stand up for what is right, like the young man or young woman who peacefully mans a roadblock against developers or fracking companies or some factory that hurts our air. While I am at it, in all this chaos, I also want to remember a brother by the name of Wanbli Tate who tirelessly championed the rights of indigenous people through radio programs, writings, and the internet, to bring attention to the wrongdoers represented in government and corporations.
We have lost a lot of our people in their last years, and again I remember my brother Russell Means who was also tireless in his efforts in trying to bring about an end to this American version of apartheid that faces Native people.
In the spirit of all those who have gone before us in this struggle, I would like to say stay strong and NEVER, NEVER give up.
Your friend always,
In the spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin
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About The Author
Editor
Levi Rickert, a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is the publisher and editor of Native News Online. Previously, he served as editor of the Native News Network. He is a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
i have championed your cause Leonard for over 20 years. In my own way, trying to make people aware of it and with hope, you will get release to spend your last days with your family. I understand the role of Nelson Mandela in making us aware of the evil of Apartheid, but the man was no saint. He was not a Ghandi or even Martin Luther King Jr. There are many things about him that have been kept hidden form the western mind by the media. If you believe in truth and justice and freedom, he is not the man that should be exonerated on his death. There are many more deserving individuals I am sure, of which, you are most decidley one.
No. Just no.
I have traveled in South Africa to both Cape Town and Khayelitsha. I have visited District 6 and Robben Island. Your comment reflects an ignorance of the positive influence of this man has had on his people. Whatever vague reference you are making cannot hold a candle to this positive impact. There is so much more to do; the poverty and economic apartheid continues to be overwhelming in South Africa. No one man could fix that, even with a second lifetime. However, he can easily be compared to Ghandi or MLK. He belongs with them, perhaps was even the greater.
Forgive him for he knows not what he says and he’s trolling for reaction. Because no one in their right mind would write those words.
It is so shameful that you have not been pardoned. I know you are innocent of the crimes you are accused of. Good you haven’t lost your voice or your heart Brother. You have been and will forever be in my prayers. As far as the negative comments about Nelson Mandela, I would love to hear of the critics own accomplishments and how they compare with his. We all have a shadow. I can only hope and work toward touching as many lives as you and he have. We have never met, but I am deeply touched and care about your struggle. May you be free!
Lee
I read your wise words wa do
Standing with you. Witnessing your truth.
This breaks my heart to know that Native American Brother Leonard Peltier is still locked up as a Political Prisoner and should of been freed many many years ago. Just as Nelson Mandela was freed so should Leonard Peltier be!!!!!
The great teachers preach love, tolerance and acceptance. To the best of my knowledge, they have been of humankind, like you and I. Peltier has been incarcerated far too long.
Mr. Peltier,
I have long been aware of your struggle and supported you in it. Your humility s exemplary.
Long through history have oppressors subjugated peoples they call savages, then take, rape and pillgage the land they were living on and say they ‘discovered’ it. Generations of the native peoples in North America have endured this oppression. The heart still beats and some still tell the story of what it is to live free.
Only by not forgetting this will it return when most needed. Those whose hearts, minds and eyes are open will never forget and be there to tell the tales.
Support to you, sir…be well
inspiring words,of wisdom.hang in there.leonard.
our family,thinks of u always. peace and love.
If I wanted to write to Leonard, where would I address my card to. I have followed him over the years, I think it’s time that I wrote to him personally, only to tell him that I care.
Peace and Love forever,
Jade
Your family is in my heart Edith. May he be pardoned. If President Obama were really about social justice, we would all be celebrating. It is certainly not too late. Freeing Leonard is a chance to at least show his heart. Let’s continue to pray for that.
Gerald Houck, Thank you for trying to get people to open their eyes and realize that Mandela was not a saint that others are trying to make him. You do not go to prison for 27 years for nothing. I guess people forget the necklace act that he and his followers did to people, by putting a tire over their heads pouring gas on it and setting them on fire. That made headline news with true pictures. So yes, the man may have changed his actions after prison, but he was a vicious killer for many years. I could list more actions but they are the type that no one wants to think about. This man in prison, is quite correct in his letter about Mandela. And what is shocking is that we have a black President and still have apartheid. Interesting isn’t it. And we have a black president and still have slavery. Makes me wonder about a lot of things.
You have it wrong, his wife did exhort her followers to use the necklace tyre , they used Mandelas imprisonment as their cause for perpetrating those horrors,
I live in South Africa and am a humanitarian above all things and I will concur that Nelson Mandela in a big way was nothing more than a face a story to market but the truth is that he was imprisoned becuase he was a terrorist he with his cause planted many bombs and of course the invention of “the necklace’ I have recently been to America and what I will say is that if there is Apartheid/racism its in America( the land of the free) In South Africa the government the Anc headed by the president Jacob Zuma who raped a girl go google Jacob Zuma on Wikipedia and understand if you can what I and many South Africans cant which is why these people have become heros
Yes, I have a bitter taste in my mouth when I see the copious tributes to Mandela. Ruth is right that although he changed for the better in prison, that does not ameliorate the heinous actions of his past. He transformed and for that I and the world are grateful, but that does not make him a saint and I felt a bit tainted from all this massive acclaim. To me, it just doesn’t ring true.
IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT A PIECE OF THE LEGEND OF MANDELA, NOT LEAST POLITICIANS. TO ME HE WAS A GUY WHO LEARNT FROM HIS MISTAKES. HIS SANCTFICATION IS SOMETHING WHICH GRATIFIES THOSE WHO SEEK TO SANCTIFY THEMSELVES NOT LEAST THE POLITICOS IN BRITAIN WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE. THEY SEEM TO BE ALL VIEING FOR A KNIGHTHOOD OR ITS FEMALE EQUIVALENT. HE MADE MISTAKES AND HE DID SOME GOOD THINGS AND THE ANC ARE RIDING THE ENSUING GRAVY TRAIN.
I have been attending pow-wows for decades now and nary a one was without a table set up to petition for your release, Leonard.
I say that Nelson’s passing has fueled passion for your justice even more.
My vision is that, starting with American Indian musicians, actors and activists, we organize a HUGE televised concert on a week-end of your choice, concomitant with a HUGE protest at the prison site.
Wow, if it wasn’t for my friend Ice I would have never read this article.
I hope and pray for support to grow towards freeing Leonard, time to let him go home.
As for those who want to point at Nelson Mandela for the atrocities he committed, I wonder what I would have done had I sustained a lifetime of having had atrocities committed on me, or my people having been beaten, kicked, raped, robbed, pillaged, had our identity, language, culture, etc stolen from us. I would never judge him, That is the role of the Higher Power.
Thank you Mr Peliter These are wise words from a wise man I live in Canada And yes we here also are going thru the discrimination suffered genocide like the rest of our American brothers and sisters. I agree with you our young are now taking an active part in what is happening in both America and Canada.I honestly belief that both gov;ts here in Canada and America are afraid of what our people are saying We will be Ilde NO More. I would like to take the time to say I;m so sorry for the injustice you have had to endure for what you believe in.It;s my belief that if you were on the outside you;d be a Great leader for the plight our brothers and sisters in both countries.Thank you again stay strong my brother Geraldine Beck Winnipeg Man Canada