Longest-held U.S. political prisoner Leonard Peltier is hospitalized

As of October 28, the longest-held political prisoner in the United States, Leonard Peltier, has been hospitalized. Peltier, who recently turned 80 behind bars, has dealt with various health concerns due to his long confinement, which include diabetes, high blood pressure, and surviving COVID-19. Peltier’s supporters are calling for him to receive an emergency medical transfer out of prison to a medical facility.

“Leonard is confined in a small cell, most of the time being on lockdown, where he can’t even walk properly and have circulation and sunshine and proper food,” said close advocate Gloria La Riva in a recent interview. “I imagine anybody who thinks about Leonard wonders how does someone survive this? How do you live through this for 49 years? That’s what the US government does to political prisoners. Whether it’s Mumia Abu-Jamal, or Mutulu Shakur, or Sundiata Acoli, who spend 40, 50 years in prison. It’s called political vengeance. It’s telling them, you will pay a price for your political activism.”

Peltier, who is hailed as a hero of the Indigenous struggle for his activism with the American Indian Movement (AIM), was denied parole in July after almost half a century behind bars. According to Peltier’s lawyer, Kevin Sharp, an interim hearing has been scheduled for 2026, while a full hearing has been scheduled for June 2039, when Peltier will be 94.