Saturday, June 24, 2006

ENOUGHT ALREADY: SET THESE GUYS FREE


The following comes from the San Francisco Bay View.

Help political prisoners Hugo Pinell and Seth Hayes win parole

Hugo Pinell

Hugo is scheduled to go before the Parole Board on July 10, 2006. Please write letters to the Board of Prison Terms to encourage them to grant Hugo parole. You may mail your letters to Gordon Kaupp, Attorney at Law, who will be representing Hugo at the parole hearing. See below for details or visit www.hugopinell.org/index.htm.

Please tell as many people as you can to write letters to the Parole Board. All letters should include specific offers of help and/or support for Hugo to re-enter society. The Parole Board commissioners are interested in the following offers:
job training

offers of employment, including temporary work

assistance in writing a resume

help with networking and job searching

a temporary or a permanent place to live, preferably in San Francisco or the Bay Area

monetary support (He’ll be released after 42 years with $200 gate money.)

In addition, describe other ways you can support Hugo’s transition back into society after spending over 42 years in prison, 34 in solitary confinement. Please mention your relationship to Hugo, what impact he has made on your life, how long you have known him or about him, and any other positive comments you might have.

For those of you with job offers, please be aware that Hugo is fluent in English and Spanish, which should be a feather in his cap in regard to employment. Also, Hugo is very personable, intelligent and athletic and is in tip top physical condition. Highly disciplined, Hugo is a vegetarian and continues to work out regularly. He would be an excellent mentor for at-risk youth.

Please include the date and the subject of your letter, which should be Hugo L.A. Pinell (A88401), and use his prison number, e.g.:

Date

Dear Parole Commissioners:

Re: Hugo L. A. Pinell (A88401)

Please send your original letter to: Gordon Kaupp, Attorney at Law, 115 1/2 Bartlett St., San Francisco, CA. 94110.

Robert ‘Seth’ Hayes

Robert “Seth” Hayes is a U.S. political prisoner and former member of the Black Panther Party who has been imprisoned in New York state for more than three decades. When Seth was convicted in 1974, his sentence was 25 years to life. The implicit understanding at the time of his sentencing was that Seth would serve 25 years as a minimum, after which time he would be eligible for release based on his record and conduct in prison.

In July, 2006, Seth will be going before the parole board for the fourth time. Seth’s prison record is exemplary, and if a decision about Seth’s parole were to be based on his conduct and personal growth, he would have rejoined his family and his community years ago.

Please write a letter to the parole board to let them know that you think Seth deserves to be released. Write your own letter, or use the sample letter that has been included in this document.

If you have a personal relationship with Seth, please consider writing about this relationship in your letter. If you work with a community organization or union, have a professional job or are a rock star, please consider mentioning this in your letter (or writing on letterhead, etc.).

If you decide to personalize your letter, you may choose to include information drawn from the short biography on his website, where some of Seth’s accomplishments are highlighted. The site, at www.sethhayes.org, has been put together by his supporters, or you may email them at info@sethhayes.org.

All letters should be mailed or faxed to Seth’s lawyer no later than June 30, 2006, as Seth’s parole hearing is taking place on July 15, 2006. Please send all letters to: Susan Tipograph, Attorney at Law, 350 Broadway, New York, NY 10013, fax (212) 625-3939.

Note: for further information on Seth, go to http://sethhayes.revolt.org/

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