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Envelope-to: claude@freedomarchives.org<br>
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 12:40:00 -0800<br><br>
From: "Monty H. Levenson" <monty@shakuhachi.com><br>
Subject: Veronza Bowers, Jr. Update<br><br>
<br>
Dear Friends,<br><br>
I just got off the phone with Veronza and am very pleased to inform you
that the recommendation for Mandatory Parole made at his December 21st
hearing was approved by the United States Parole Commission in
Washington, D.C.<b> Veronza will be released from federal prison no later
than February 21, 2005 after serving more than 30 years of
incarceration.</b> Alan Chaset, the lead attorney on our teams, is
working hard to secure an earlier release date once the administrative
details and paper work are completed. I will keep you posted.<br><br>
While this is wonderful news, past experience has taught me that
circumstances can change very quickly and unexpectedly when dealing the
USPC and Bureau of Prisons bureaucracies. As you may recall, last time
Veronza was due to be released, his parole was rescinded less than 18
hours prior to emerging from prison gates as his daughter and three
sisters waited outside to greet him. While Kayo and I plan to be at the
prison this time, I will not celebrate until the hug I have for him is
delivered.<br><br>
Veronza asked me to thank all of you from the bottom of his heart for
your help and unyielding support. He will write a personal letter tonight
which I will pass on to you when it is received. If you have any words
for Veronza, please send them to me and I will deliver them in
person.<br><br>
In closing, I would like to say that my experience as a friend and
advocate for Veronza over the past 17 years has taught me much. Here is
one man's story-or nightmare, if you will-that forces me think about the
more than two million Americans presently locked up by our government-six
million, if we include those on parole and probation. Multipy these
numbers by the families, friends and loved ones touched by their
incarceration. While many undoubtedly deserve to be there, I find it very
disturbing to read, with increasing frequency, about those who have been
falsely convicted or wrongly executed due to the color of their skin,
social class or political and religious beliefs. In light of this, our
success in winning Veronza's freedom is but a small, symbolic victory. To
my mind, its greatest significance lies in showing us the power of a
citizenry that this willing to endure and stand up, against all odds, for
the principles that underlie the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing justice
and human rights for all.<br><br>
All the best,<br><br>
Monty<br><br>
</font><pre>--
</pre><font size=3>Monty H. Levenson<br>
Tai Hei Shakuhachi Flutes<br>
P.O. Box 294<br>
Willits, CA 95490<br>
Tel.:707-459-3402<br>
FAX: 707-459-3434<br>
e-mail: monty@shakuhachi.com<br>
Web Site:
<a href="http://www.shakuhachi.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.shakuhachi.com<br>
</a></font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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