A Conversation with Leonard Peltier

On Saturday, November 14, the nonprofit BRAID brings Leonard Peltier into a UCLA School of Law classroom for an afternoon of talk about books, culture and life inside prison. It is a free, in-person gathering, and one of the more unusual things happening in Los Angeles in mid-November.

When: Saturday, November 14, 12 PM to 3 PM Where: UCLA School of Law, Room 1347, 385 Charles E Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095 Price: Free Tickets: Register through Eventbrite

Who is Leonard Peltier

Peltier is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, a lifelong activist and a member of the American Indian Movement. He was described by the organizers as the longest serving Native American political prisoner in the United States, held in federal prison for nearly 50 years after a highly controversial conviction. His sentence was commuted on January 20, 2025, following decades of organizing and advocacy. He remains under home confinement while he pursues a full pardon, so he will join the room virtually by Zoom.

What the conversation covers

Shannon Rivers, a member of the Akimel O'otham Nation, a spiritual leader, human rights activist and advisor to BRAID, leads the discussion. Peltier will reflect on his life and on incarceration, with a focus on the role books and literature played during his years in prison. The talk looks at how reading and storytelling can keep a person connected to culture, language and advocacy when they are cut off from home.

That theme comes straight from BRAID's work. The group provides cultural and educational books to Native people who are currently incarcerated across the United States, and the afternoon doubles as an introduction to that mission and its impact.

The program

The organizers list a simple schedule, which is handy if you want to plan your arrival:

• 12:00 to 12:15 PM: Arrival and check-in
• 12:15 to 12:45 PM: Opening and welcome
• 12:45 to 1:15 PM: Introducing BRAID, its mission and impact
• 1:15 to 1:45 PM: Conversation with Leonard Peltier
• 1:45 to 3:00 PM: Lunch in the Courtyard

The conversation itself is a half hour slot, and the lunch afterward leaves time to talk with other attendees. The event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Native Nations Law & Policy Center and the UCLA Prison Law & Policy Program.

Getting there

The law school sits on the UCLA campus in Westwood, at 385 Charles E Young Drive East. The event page offers driving, public transit, biking and walking directions through Eventbrite, and it does not list parking details, so check UCLA's visitor information before you go. Arrive between noon and 12:15 PM to check in.

If you are building a weekend around talks and community programs, this pairs well with other upcoming events in Los Angeles that put real conversations ahead of spectacle. Since registration runs through Eventbrite, reserve your spot early and bring your questions about literature, culture and justice.