Sundiata Acoli Wins Appeal and is Up for Parole Again

4/11/2012

Attorney Bruce Afran's appeal of Sundiata Acoli's parole-denial
and 10 year hit resulted in the New Jersey Appellate Court's remand
to the NJ Parole Board that its 10 year hit be cut to 3 years. It was
done and Sundiata has become immediately eligible for a parole
hearing again. The Appellate Court must still rule on Sundiata's 2010
denial of parole but meanwhile he's preparing to go before the parole
board again for his newly won 2012 parole hearing. In that regards he
would greatly appreciate any and all letters sent to the parole board
urging that he be released.

Sundiata is 75 years of age and has been in prison 39 years
resulting from a stop of his car by state troopers on the NJ
Turnpike, in 1973, which erupted in gunfire that resulted in the
death of his passenger, Zayd Shakur, and a state trooper, Werner
Foerster. The other passenger, Assata Shakur, was critically wounded
and captured on the scene where another trooper, James Harper, was
also wounded. Sundiata was wounded at the scene, captured in the
woods 40 hours later and subsequently sentenced to life in NJ State prison.

Sundiata is now the longest held prisoner in New Jersey's
history of similar convictions. He has maintained an outstanding
record in prison and has had only a few minor disciplinary reports
over the past 30 years and none during the last 16 years. He's also
maintained an excellent work and scholastic record and has always
been a positive influence in prison, particularly in mentoring
prisoners toward becoming crime-free benefactors to the community
upon return to society and thereby break their cycle of recidivism.

Sundiata is a 75 year old grandfather who has long been
rehabilitated, has long satisfied all requirements for parole and has
no or "little likelihood of committing another crime:" which is the
main criterion for parole in New Jersey. Sundiata is an old man, in
declining health, who wishes to live out the rest of his days in
peace tending his grandchildren.

Send letters urging the board that "39 years is enough! Release
Sundiata Acoli! NJ #54859/Fed #39794-066" Address the INSIDE LETTER'S
HEADING to: The New Jersey State Parole Board, P.O. Box 862, Trenton
NJ 08625, BUT ADDRESS/MAIL THE ENVELOPE TO:

Florence Morgan,Esq.
120-46 Queens Blvd.
Queens NY 11415

and the letter will be forwarded to the parole board after a
copy is made for SAFC files.

Thank you for your support. Please keep in touch with
SundiataAcoli.org at The Sundiata Acoli
Freedom Page to stay abreast of Sundiata's parole situation and
additional ways you can express support/solidarity with his parole
effort. Sundiata and his Freedom Campaign, SAFC, send their sincerest
condolences to the family and comrades of Christian Gomez, the
prisoner who died in the California Prisoner's Hunger Strike - and we
send our warmest shout out of solidarity and strength to all those
participating in or supporting the California Prisoner's Hunger Strike.