Pete Seeger to host Leonard Peltier NYC benefit concert

Tuesday December 4, 2012 2:30 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Faye Murman | Pete Seeger sings "If I Had a Hammer" as the Hudson River Maritime Museum and Clearwater environmental group holds a barn-raising ceremony in Kingston. (Sept. 15, 2012)

Pete Seeger is holding an all-star benefit concert for Native American activist Leonard Peltier at Manhattan’s Beacon Theatre on Dec. 14.

The longtime Fishkill resident is co-hosting the “Bring Leonard Peltier Home 2012 Concert” with actor Harry Belafonte with the goal of raising awareness for Peltier, who has been in prison for the past 36 years after being convicted for the deaths of two FBI agents in 1976. Notable figures such as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama believe he was wrongly imprisoned, as does Seeger.

The 93-year-old folk artist told Newsday Westchester in September that he was planning a December benefit concert for Peltier.

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“We've got a national campaign to try and get Leonard finally freed,” Seeger said. “He’s not in good health. He’s in his 60s or 70s. I think we’ll fill the Beacon Theatre and raise the money for lawyers to get Leonard freed.”

Seeger will be performing at the concert along with Jackson Browne, Bruce Cockburn and Native American singers Bill Miller and Jennifer Kreisberg. Actor Peter Coyote and former Amnesty International president Jack Healey will be among the guest speakers, and a short film featuring Carlos Santana and others sharing their support for Peltier will also be screened.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, Beacon Theatre and MSG Box Offices. All of the proceeds will benefit the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee.  

Tags: New York City , Fishkill , Pete Seeger , Leonard Peltier , concerts , Beacon Theatre , music