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Please mail a copy of your letter to:
Brad Thomson, Attorney
People’s Law Office
1180 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60642
U.S. Parole Commission
90 K Street, N.E., 3rd floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
Re: Dr. Mutulu Shakur, #83205-012
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to strongly support immediate release for Dr. Mutulu Shakur. Dr. Shakur has been diagnosed with advanced bone marrow cancer caused by multiple myeloma. If released, he will live with his son in Los Angeles, and receive treatment for his cancer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
In spite of his dire medical diagnosis, Dr. Shakur has been denied compassionate release by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. In its denial, the BOP cited 18 months to live as its standard for approving compassionate release requests. This standard was expressly rejected by Congress in the First Step Act, which changed the previous compassionate release standard (18 months to live) to a standard including all diagnoses with an end-of-life trajectory. By denying Dr. Shakur compassionate release, the BOP is defying the intent of Congress.
After being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, Dr. Shakur was cut off from his family, friends, and his lawyers. He was taken to an undisclosed facility where he was denied phone calls, personal mail, and visits. He endured prolonged chemotherapy treatments while shackled in a way that drastically restricted him from moving even his hands. He spent over two months under those torturous conditions. His legal team is still being denied his complete medical records, which has kept Dr. Shakur from getting any medical evaluations or second opinions by non-BOP doctors. Dr. Shakur was not receiving his legal mail in a timely manner. These conditions were unacceptable and inhumane. Dr. Shakur was very recently transferred to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, where his conditions have improved, but where he is still being kept in the dark about his medical history and condition.
I am aware of the circumstances of his original conviction and his 60-year federal prison sentence. Dr. Shakur has already been incarcerated for over 34 years for his actions at that time and he is currently eligible for parole.
Based on what I know of Dr. Shakur’s behavior and activities in prison, he is an excellent candidate for parole. He has been a prison peacemaker throughout his incarceration, evidenced by letters from prison staff. He continually strives to improve the lives and outlook of others. He has created educational programs for young men and a hospice program for elderly prisoners, and has actively participated in numerous other prison programs, including Suicide Watch. Dr. Shakur’s behavior in prison demonstrates that he poses no threat to the community.
I strongly urge you to make the compassionate decision to allow Dr. Shakur to be released as soon as possible – so he can have the opportunity for standard of care treatment, bone marrow transplant and access to clinical trials if necessary. He will be welcome in our community, and I know he will be a community asset if he survives this cancer.
Sincerely,
[Elected Official Signature]