Free Sirhan.

With the recent passing of Paul Schrade who, as one of the shooting victims in the pantry, had standing to appear and testify at the hearing, Sirhan’s defense team is a man down. I’m hoping you can step up and help out.

If you’ve read my book, you know that Sirhan is truly innocent. But even if you haven’t, Sirhan is old, nonviolent, has been a model prisoner, has a place to return to – his childhood home, where his brother still lives. He should be treated like any other prisoner and not made to bear “cruel and unusual punishment” because people believe (inaccurately) that he killed someone famous and beloved. Justice requires that we defend everyone’s rights – not just the rights of the people we love the most.

We can’t argue for Sirhan’s innocence in a parole hearing. Parole hearings are not about the evidence, so please don’t waste any writing time discussing the conspiracy. Parole hearings have one simple question to answer: is the person fit to be released back into society?

Let’s go over the facts of Sirhan’s case:

·    Sirhan is 78. The vast majority of crimes are committed by much younger people.

·    He has no history of prior or subsequent crimes.

·      He has been a model prisoner.

·    He has attended classes in anything that could help him lead a better life outside prison, from anger management to classes on alcoholism.

·    He was already paroled by the Board, but the Governor exercised his veto power over his own board to insist Sirhan be kept in prison – a power available to only two governors in the US (and a power that should be available to no governors anywhere).

·       There aren’t enough jails to house all the violent, mentally ill and drug-addicted prisoners we already have. Why should a quiet old man who bothers no one take up space when it is needed for someone truly violent?

·       Taxpayers foot the bill to house people who should be paroled. It’s cheaper to all of us if Sirhan is paroled. His brother has enough for them both. They own their house outright. And his brother is nearly blind and really needs Sirhan's assistance now.

·       The neighbors of the Sirhan family have said they are fine with him coming home.

·       Two of the Kennedy children – one who has actually looked into the case and one who hasn’t, but understood RFK’s strong faith in the power of redemption – have asked for his release.

·       The rest of Kennedy’s children remain traumatized by their father’s loss and can’t see past their own grief to do what’s right. That, btw, is why statues of Justice, worldwide, are blindfolded. Justice cannot favor one family’s grief over another’s.

·       The Governor’s veto is being challenged in court.

·       The parole board got it right the last time, and they should get it right again and never bow to pressure from a Governor, a family member or anyone else who doesn’t have the law and justice for all at the forefront of their intentions.

Please don’t just copy and paste, and you don’t have to address all these points. Pick the ones that resonate with you and speak from your heart. 

If you want to submit your letters by email, send to:

State of California, Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation
via BPH.CorrespondenceUnit@cdcr.ca.gov

And cc Angela Berry, Sirhan's parole attorney, at angela@guardingyourrights.com

If you want to use "snail mail," send your letters to:

State of California, Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Board of Parole Hearings
P.O. Box 4036
Sacramento, CA  95812-4036

Please send a copy to:

Angela Berry
75-5660 Kopiko Street, Suite C-7, #399
Kailua-Kona, HI  96740

Thank you very much for caring about someone you don’t know. By doing so, you make the world a better place for everyone.