For the past several weeks, we've been watching videos in a private Facebook group that chronicles the Dakota Wokiksuye Memorial Ride/Dakota 38 +2 Memorial Ride. (Video about ride here). The "soundtrack" for these are mostly prayers sung to drums. Those prayers merged early this morning with songs and voices from South Africa when we woke to news of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
That merged chorus reminded us--a somewhat lapsed member of the Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion--of Tutu's engagement in the calls for the release of Leonard Peltier.
The international Leonard Peltier Defense Committee Twitter account noted the connection:
A huge personal loss for Leonard Peltier. His longtime friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa has passed on. He was one of Leonard's longest and strongest advocates. @KevinHSharp @jbendery @SecDebHaaland @VP @POTUS @MMFlint @democracynow #FreeLeonardPeltier pic.twitter.com/bySw0uPOJN
— Free Leonard Peltier (@PeltierHQ) December 26, 2021
Native writer, chief judge and member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota of the Oceti Sakowin Ruth Hopkins was direct in calling for President Biden to honor Tutu's wishes:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has passed away. What a loss to humanity. Wopida (thank you) for being a strong Native ally.@POTUS @VP Please honor his wishes & release his dear friend, Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier. #FreePeltier pic.twitter.com/4BkSeM2HHo
— Ruth H. Hopkins (Red Road Woman) (@Ruth_HHopkins) December 26, 2021
We agree. Readers on Twitter should re-tweet Hopkins' call for Peltier's release, as well as following her on Tweeter. We also recommend contacting the White House directly.
Photo: Desmond Tutu, via the BBC.
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