Sundiata Acoli, 85, the oldest former member of the Black Panthers, who remains in prison for acts of violence during the struggle for the liberation of blacks in the 1970s, will finally be released from prison after the Supreme Court of New Jersey ruled that it no longer posed a risk to public safety.
Accoli was held captive for more than 49 years for the May 1973 shooting of New Jersey soldier Werner Forster. He was found guilty the following year and sentenced to life in prison plus 24 to 35 years.
The Supreme Court noted in its ruling that, under the terms of his sentence, Acoli was eligible for parole for the first time 29 years ago. Each time he appeared in court, his release was denied.
Yet for more than a quarter of a century, his prison record has been “exemplary,” judges said. He completed 120 courses while in prison, participated in consultations, had a constructive relationship with prison staff and other prisoners, and received positive reviews from prison staff.
Twelve years ago, a state-appointed psychologist assessed Acoli’s progress in prison and concluded that he was deeply sorry for Forster’s death and that “it is time to seriously consider his parole.” However, his parole was refused; in his last parole hearing, he was still classified as a potential danger to society.
The Supreme Court judges concluded that the parole board had “lost sight of the fact that its mission is largely to determine who the Acoli has become.” He added that his age of 85 was another important factor that the board did not take into account, given that elderly people released from prison have an extremely low recidivism rate.
Accoli, named Clark Edward Squire, met with Forster and another regular soldier, James Harper, on May 2, 1973, after his car was stopped on a New Jersey highway for a broken taillight. He traveled with two other members of the Black Liberation Army, Asata Shakur (formerly Joan Cesimard) and Zaid Malik Shakur (James Costan).
In the ensuing melee, they were shot, killing Forster and Shakur. Harper was wounded, and Acoli and Asata Shakur, also wounded, were arrested after a police chase.
In his defense, Acoli said he was shot at crossfire and disappeared. When he regained consciousness, he found Forster’s body on the ground nearby.
Acoli was one of at least 12 former members of the Black Panthers and their armed wing, the Black Liberation Army, who are still in prison. Many are now approaching or more than half a century behind bars.
Last year, Accoli wrote to the Guardian, describing himself as an old man, “who has been in prison at the age of 36 for almost 50 years and now poses a threat even to fleas, not to mention public safety. My sentence is obviously too long. I quickly fall apart in front of my family and friends. ”
Sofia Elijah, a civil rights lawyer and leading advocate for Acoli, said it was time for him to “spend the rest of his life lovingly caring for his family and community”. She added that she hoped his release would draw attention to “thousands of elders like him trapped in the New Jersey prison system.”
Although Acoli’s release concludes one of the unfinished stories of the Black Panther era, the story remains unresolved. After her arrest along with Acoli in 1973, Asata Shakur fled and fled to Cuba, where she was granted asylum by the Cuban government.
She remains on the FBI’s most wanted list as an “internal terrorist,” offering a $ 2 million reward for information leading to her capture.
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