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<font size=3>March 27, 2010 Open Letter from Robert Seth Hayes<br><br>
Revolutionary Greetings, <br><br>
My name is Robert Seth Hayes, and I am a former member of the Black
Panther Party who has been held as a political prisoner in New York State
for the past 37 years. I am presently awaiting a parole board hearing in
June 2010, but I intend to post-pone the hearing while I await the
results of my legal battle in the courts concerning my appeal of the 2008
decision of the NYS Parole Board commissioners in my case. I believe we
have a better than good chance of gaining a new hearing with new
guidelines or restrictions on what can and cannot be used at my
hearings. <br><br>
I’ve spent over 37 years in prison thus far. On many occasions I felt
release imminent only to be disappointed and almost discouraged by the
blatant racism manifested by those with authority over me. After
bringing the spot light on my condition and circumstances before the
courts. I now feel I have a better than good chance of winning release.
We are presently in court seeking a reversal to the order which denied me
parole for another 2 years. The 2008 parole board hearing was the sixth
time I’d attended without gaining parole or possible consideration for
parole. Now up for parole for the seventh time, I hope to win. Because my
next parole board appearance is slated for June 2010, I plan on
postponing that hearing as I await the results of our present petition
before the courts. <br><br>
If we are able to win a victory in court it will grant me a clean slate
to approach the parole board with consideration for release. The
commissioners at that time will only be able to make their decision on my
conviction, and my present time served. At long last, the only
considerations will be my achievements while incarcerated and my goals
and plans upon being released, and not my political beliefs, my past
membership in the Black Panther Party or my military record in Vietnam –
all issues that the parole board has used to deny me parole in the past.
<br><br>
We are prepared to argue before the courts that the commissioners of
Parole court hearing are utilizing false and misleading information in
making a determination of continued<b> </b>incarceration and thereby
straying from the official guidelines which they are required to uphold.
If they are forced to use the actual law in their decision, they will
only be able to look at my original conviction and my behavior over the
time I served in prison. They will be hard pressed to demand continued
incarceration based on “gut feelings”, outside the commitments of the
law. I believe that I stand a good chance for release or absent that, a
powerful argument to make an appeal to a higher court over the
misapplication of Rules, law and obligations on the part of those on the
Lower Court level.<br><br>
I am therefore asking you to consider your ability to aid and assist me
in my goals. We are working towards a $3,500.00 legal bill to pay
for legal representation for the Article 78 now in the courts awaiting a
decision. Any help that you can provide by sending donations
directly to my attorney would be greatly appreciated:<br><br>
Cheryl L. Kates, Esq.<br>
Attorney At Law <br>
PO Box 711<br>
Honeoye, New York 14471 <br><br>
(585) 820-3818<br><br>
or send the donation directly to my finance officer:<br><br>
Nate Buckley<br>
438 Massachusetts Ave <br>
Buffalo, New York, 14213<br><br>
(716) 886-0544<br><br>
Your aide and assistance is sorely needed. I respect that times are
hard and that many of you, having already given once, can barely afford
to do so now. In light of that and the goal intended, I ask again
and will gratefully accept whatever amount you can either raise or
extend. Struggle is ongoing and our objective must always remain
clear. I/we do not ask that you become burdened, but rather
continually aware of what we want, what we intend, what we support.
I hope to hear that this call was respected, honored and served.
Much love to you. I remain.<br><br>
Dedicated and Responsive,<br>
Comrade Robert Seth’ Hayes<br><br>
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