[Ppnews] Letter from Robert Seth Hayes

[Political Prisoner News]

March 27, 2010 Open Letter from Robert Seth Hayes

Revolutionary Greetings,

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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:

Cheryl L. Kates, Esq.
Attorney At Law
PO Box 711
Honeoye, New York   14471

(585) 820-3818

or send the donation directly to my finance officer:

Nate Buckley
438 Massachusetts Ave
Buffalo, New York, 14213

(716) 886-0544

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.

Dedicated and Responsive,
Comrade Robert Seth’ Hayes



Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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