A prisoner held at a Federal Prison in Coleman, Florida, is claiming he is being denied medication by prison officials. Leonard Peltier, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who is serving a life sentence, was convicted in 1977 for the murders of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975. People consider Peltier a political prisoner of war. Leonard will turn 70-years old on September 12 and suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure. It’s still not clear from the released statement what medication he is being denied.
On Thursday, March 13 The International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (ILPDC) released a statement which states,“It has come to our attention that the Federal Prison in Coleman, Florida is denying Leonard Peltier, a Native American political prisoner, medication that is essential in dealing with life threatening medical conditions. The ILPDC as well as Amnesty International and numerous national and international organizations stand ready to confront this type of illegal, immoral and cruel and unusual punishment that affects political prisoners everywhere.”
“We must remind Americans that while they are pointing the finger at other nations regarding political prisoners, they have three fingers pointing back at themselves. America cannot legitimately complain about other nations while Leonard Peltier and others receive this type of inhumane treatment.”
Last June, Peltier wrote in a statement about being denied medical attention then:
“The recent problems with shortness of breath and chest pains are causing me additional stress. I assure you, this is not the place to be sick or to have health problems because in prison, we are just another number.”
Written by D’Anthony Davis
