Leonard Peltier Released From Prison After Nearly 50 Years [Video]

WASHINGTON — Native American rights activist Leonard Peltier was released from prison on Tuesday morning, ending his nearly 50 years of incarceration after the U.S. government lied, threatened people and hid evidence to put him behind bars.

“Today I am finally free! They may have imprisoned me but they never took my spirit!” Peltier said in a statement. “Thank you to all my supporters throughout the world who fought for my freedom. I am finally going home. I look forward to seeing my friends, my family, and my community. It’s a good day today.”

NDN Collective, an Indigenous rights group that has been leading Peltier’s legal effort, shared photos of Peltier moments after leaving prison, outside in the sun.

Peltier, 80, had been in prison ever since the federal government accused him of …