VETERAN BLACK PANTHER & "FORMER" 49 YEAR LONG CAPTURED U.S. POLITICAL PRISONER, JALIL MUNTAQIM, WAS ARRESTED & IS FACING RE-IMPRISONMENT FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE!-gctid525522

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 VETERAN BLACK PANTHER & "FORMER" 49 YEAR LONG CAPTURED U.S. POLITICAL PRISONER, JALIL MUNTAQIM, WAS ARRESTED & IS FACING RE-IMPRISONMENT FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE!

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Support for Jalil Muntaqim Petition: Please Click the below link to sign & share widely......

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdW2zfSqUm28Xk7BbUi2gicD-YwAcbwfvI3vG3ToOdyiYeXDw/viewform 
   
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STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR JALIL MUNTAQIM
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We the undersigned fully support the New York State Parole Board's decision to release Jalil Muntaqim. The parole process is meant to evaluate a person for release based on who they are today, not to extend one's sentence into perpetuity.

Mr. Muntaqim has been incarcerated since 1971, when he was 19 years old. During his 49 years in prison, Mr. Muntaqim has led education/mentorship programs for prisoners, earned several educational degrees and mentored many younger incarcerated men. He has been commended for preventing prisoner violence and promoting safety. As a result, hundreds of organizations and individuals have stepped forward to support his release including community and faith leaders, family members, and the NY State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and eurasian Legislative Caucus.

The Board finally acted honorably in following the guidelines put forth by New York State Executive Law 259-(i). A 2011, bi-partisan amendment to the law passed by Republican and Democratic lawmakers makes it clear that an individual's readiness for successful re-entry should take priority in the decision to grant release.

Upon his release, Mr. Muntaqim was warmly welcomed by a large, diverse set of community leaders and residents of Rochester, New York. He reported to his parole officers and followed instructions to sign up for various social services required by all senior citizens in his position. He was handed a large stack of paperwork including a voter registration form (if you are on parole in NY, you cannot register to vote. Plus, it was too late to register to vote! In addition, it seems that his parole officer either didn't look at all the paperwork or didn't care to inform Jalil about the voter registration form). Muntaqim, eager to follow instructions, appropriately filled out and signed everything required of him.

Now, the Rochester District Attorney is attempting to re-incarcerate an elder recovering from COVID-19 because he filled out a form as instructed.

We are statewide and national organizations, community and faith leaders, elected officials, civil rights organizations, public defenders, and residents of the Rochester area. We pledge our continuing support for Mr. Muntaqim and our assistance in facilitating his reintegration into society. We vehemently oppose any efforts to remove him from our community and/or place him back in prison.

Free Them All!