Family and friends of ailing Black Liberation Army activist Dr. Mutulu Shakur were elated upon reports that he had been released from the “belly of the beast” on Friday, Dec. 16. After being denied parole nine times and diagnosed with terminal bone marrow cancer, he was granted compassionate release last month after doctors said he only had six months to live.
“Mutulu is deeply grateful for the broad expression of trust and support, and thanks everyone who has helped him over the years,” said a statement on mutulushakur.com. “We ask that he have the space and time to be with his family and to continue receiving medical treatment. The continued incarceration of this terminally ill senior citizen serves no useful purpose as Mr. Shakur represents absolutely no threat to public safety.”
His supporters also released a statement: “Today, the morning of December 16th, 2022, Dr. Mutulu Shakur was released from prison on parole! The decision to grant parole is based on federal law guidelines for ‘old law’ prisoners, finding that Dr. Shakur poses no threat to the community, taking into consideration his exemplary conduct in prison, his medical condition and how much time he has served. Mutulu is now with his family. This victory was secured by the steadfast support of his legal team, family and community comprised of all of you.”
Dequi Kioni-Sadiki, U.S. held Political Prisoners’ organizer, added: “Welcome home. We want to give him time to enjoy his relative freedom. We want to continue raising funds because he came home with decades of malnutrition, medical neglect, abuse and torture which has left him with cancer and survivor of COVID. So he needs funds. He’s a healer in need of healing.”
She reminded people not to forget “the rest of our political prisoners.”
Shakur’s recent statement reads: “This country is not the same country it was at the time of my conviction, and I have lived long enough to understand the changes the country and I have undergone. I will always care about freedom and equality for Black Americans, marginalized people and the lower classes in this country and abroad. The struggle was never about me, but for the will of the people.
“I cannot undo the violence and tragedy that took place more than 30 years ago. But for several decades while incarcerated I have dedicated myself to being a healer, spreading a message of reconciliation and justice, and playing a positive role in the lives of those I come into contact with, in and out of prison.”
Shakur was convicted for allegedly participating in a 1981 Brinks armored truck heist that fetched $1.6 million and resulted in the deaths of two Nyack cops and a security guard. He was also convicted for assisting Assata Shakur’s 1979 exodus from a New Jersey prison. He was sentenced to 60 years, becoming eligible for parole in 2016, with a 2024 mandatory release date.
For more information about Mutulu Shakur’s medical needs, go to: Mutulushakur.com/support
One of the policemen he murdered has a large family who don’t feel he is a political hero. His loved ones can see and love him. What about ptl. Waverly Brown and his partner or the armor car guard. Enjoy this thugs freedom. He served his time. But to put him up as some kind of hero is wrong. There are many who see him as a murderer.
why not go say your non sense somewhere else the man is. HERO all over the world no none remember this police thug that only get his karma but not at the hand of Mutulur
I haven’t read anything that says he is a political hero.
I am grateful the role he played in attempting to heal drug users, and uplift the down trodden in overlooked and abused communities. Just as he can never be viewed as a hero to many, peace officers will never be viewed as bringing peace to the community. There many cases of injustice carried out by those individuals. Take George Floyd and Sandra Bland being murdered by the hands of those who were put in place to supposedly protect citizens. There are many opinions in this worlds but mine is that he was a political prisoner. And I thank God her was placed in the hands of his family to take is last breath, when that time arrives.