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PO Box 12122<br><br>
Eugene, OR 97440<br><br>
<a href="http://www.breakthechains.net/">www.breakthechains.net</a><br><br>
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<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>July 31, 2004<br><br>
<br><br>
Dear Friends,<br><br>
<br><br>
Greetings, we hope this letter finds you well and in strong spirits. As
many of you know, we have been working in support of the release of Jalil
Muntaqim (aka Anthony Bottom), specifically around his July parole
hearing. Many of you have received packets and/or letters from us
regarding Jalil’s parole hearing and many of you wrote letters on Jalil’s
behalf, urging the parole board to release him back to his community, and
for this we thank you. We are writing to let people know what happened at
the parole hearing on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />7/27/04 and
to see where we can go from here. <br><br>
<br><br>
On July 27, 2004, Jalil had his second hearing before the parole board.
Once again he was <u>denied</u> parole. Even though many of us expected
this outcome, we are outraged and know we must continue to do all we can
to ensure Jalil’s release. We encourage all those who care about justice,
who fight against racism, and who understand the inherent corrupt nature
of the U.S. criminal justice system, to do all they can in support of
Jalil and all U.S. political prisoners. <br><br>
<br><br>
Here is an excerpt from the most recent letter we have received from
Jalil, dated the day of the hearing. In it, Jalil explains what happened
and lays out what he would like people to do. It reads: <br><br>
<br><br>
<i>“As you may have already learned over the net, once again I was denied
parole, rescheduled for the next appearance for 7/27/06. The denial read
as follows:<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>‘DENIED - HOLD 24 MONTHS, NEXT APPEARANCE DATE: 07/2006<br><br>
<br><br>
Upon a review of the record, personal interview and due deliberation it
is the determination of the panel that parole is denied. You are
presently incarcerated upon your conviction of murder, by verdict, you
and 2 cohorts ambushed and gunned down 2 New York City Police Officers,
killing both. Your criminal justice history also includes California and
Federal felony convictions. The panel has considered your programming and
clean disciplinary record since your last board appearance. Also
considered is a comprehensive submission advocating for your release. All
factors considered, the panel concludes that discretionary release must
again be denied. You committed a vicious and particularly violent crime
evidencing a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life. Your
proclivity towards weapon related criminality lends further support to
the panel’s conclusion that you lack suitability for release to the
community. You destroyed 2 lives denying children of their fathers and
wives of their husbands and release at this time would deprecate the
severity of your conduct, undermine respect for the law and tend to
trivialize the tragic loss of life which you caused.’<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
“This boilerplate decision essentially holds that the nature of the
crime, in and of itself - of which will never change due to the
conviction, prohibits my release on parole. Basically, this is the same
reason for the last denial.<br><br>
<br><br>
At any rate, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to all
supporters, especially those who wrote letters to the parole board in my
behalf. However, I will be appealing this denial, and in preparation of
my appeal I would urge all those who wrote letters in my behalf to write
a second letter to the Chairman of NYS Div. of Parole, stating the
following:<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>‘Based on the unjust denial of parole on July 27, 2004, for Anthony
Jalil Bottom, and pursuant to NYS Div. of Parole Policy and procedure
Manual - Item 8355.00, I request a FULL BOARD CASE REVIEW. In the parole
denial it was stated that, “…the panels conclusion that you lack
suitability for release to the community.” However, the parole panel has
disregarded the fact over 200 letters in support of Mr. Bottom’s release
was submitted to the parole board. The parole board failed to take in
consideration that the conviction is based upon established perjured
testimony, and the weapon Mr. Bottom was alleged to have used in this
case has turned out to not have been the actual murder weapon. Based on
these facts, I ask for a Full Board Case Review of the July 27, 2004
parole denial of Anthony Jalil Bottom.’<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
“If at all possible, I ask that this be post on the internet and people
be encouraged to write and send this letter to: Richard Dennison,
Chairman of NYS Div. of Parole, 97 Central Ave., Albany, NY
12206.<br><br>
<br><br>
Also, in this posting, I ask that people log on to
<a href="http://www.thejerichomovement.com/">www.thejerichomovement.com</a>
and learn how they can participate and contribute to the Jericho campaign to collect school supplies for African AIDS orphans in support of U.S. political prisoners.<br><br>
<br><br>
Please extend my very best regards to the righteous at heart with you. The struggle continues…<br><br>
<br><br>
Yours in struggle - <br><br>
<br><br>
Jalil”<br><br>
<br><br>
</i>Again, we thank you all who have written letters in support of Jalil and who have spread the word. Please keep doing so. We will continue to keep in touch and work with Jalil in support of his release. Please pass this on.<br><br>
<br><br>
In solidarity and struggle,<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>Break The Chains<br><br>
<br>
</b></font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 863-9977<br>
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