Malcolm X Killer Freed After 44 Years

[Hissyspit]

Source: CNN

Malcolm X Killer Freed After 44 Years

By Wayne Drash, CNN
April 27, 2010 1:56 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- Thomas Hagan, the only man who admitted his role in the 1965 assassination of iconic black leader Malcolm X, was paroled Tuesday.

Hagan was freed a day earlier than planned because his paperwork was processed more quickly than anticipated, according to the New York State Department of Correctional Services.

Hagan, 69, walked out of the minimum-security Lincoln Correctional Facility at 11 a.m. The facility is located at the intersection of West 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.

Hagan had been in a full-time work-release program since March 1992 that allowed him to live at home with his family in Brooklyn five days a week while reporting to the prison just two days.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/26/malcolmx.killer/index.html?on.cnn=1

[bluestateguy]

1. DISgusting

Sick. Positively sick.

[brendan120678]

2. Unfortunately, murderers are frequently paroled...

I'm not really in favor of it, but it happens.

[JackintheGreen]

4. He more than served his sentence

He got "paroled" a day before his official release.

If we believe in our own system of justice which is rehabilitative rather that retributive, he's done his time and deserves another chance to get it right.

Now, if we don't, then that's a separate question from this guy's release. If we believe he should be put away for life, why *not* just off 'em all?

[architect359]

7. +1 to you, eom

[Lochloosa]

8. +1

[dotymed]

9. I wish our "justice" system was

based on rehabilitation. It used to be. They changed it to retribution in the 70's. America has the largest number, per capita,in prison, than any nation on earth. You will notice that the white collar criminals who intentionally destroy our economy, are free. Like another poster said, this guy was just a tool.

[JackintheGreen]

11. Yes, in effect I would have to agree with you

But this is getting to the conversation I alluded to earlier. I is a worthy one, but it is not this one. This guy was convicted and sentenced under a rehabilitative system, and we still sort of tell ourselves that it is. This guy has served his time and been a "good boy" for a few years now.

[RufusTFirefly]

10. +1 n/t

[Psephos]

14. well said n/t

[Rebubula]

5. Hagan

Hagan was a tool in a much larger schism in the NOI.

He served his time and is now acting a productive member of society. Rehabilitation does occur sometimes.

[Xithras]

3. He served his sentence.

His sentence was 20 to life, and after 44 years, he's served double the minimum he was sentenced to. He's been out in the community on work release for quite a while and has family support, so let's just hope that he can do some good with the time he has left on this earth.

[brendan120678]

6. Lincoln Correctional Facility also isn't exactly...

"located at the intersection of West 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard."
It's more like on West 110th Street, half-way between Malcolm X Boulevard and 5th Avenue.
Been by there plenty of times.

But that wouldn't have sounded as sensational to print, I guess.

[cyr330]

12. I don't have a problem with his parole

Yes, he's a murderer. But he also paid with 44 years of his life, and he's paid his due according to the law. That's a LONG damn time!

[PoliticalOne65]

13. Look out Farrakhan, here he comes.

Actually this guy has been out on work release since 1992. He spends 5 days a week at home, and then reports in the other 2 days.

[H2O Man]

15. Mr. Hagan

is not the same mentally-dead young man he was in 1965. In the 1980s, in particular, he began intensive efforts to reform his ways. These efforts included participating in a program that promotes nonviolence and truth that I had the pleasure of assisting a Quaker group with. At that time -- and for the first time -- he went well beyond stating that he was a participant and the other two men convicted did not participate in Malcolm's murder: he told who the other participants actually were. This included those who gave the order, and paid for the murder.

I'm confident that Malcolm would want Mr. Hagan released. Further, I believe Malcolm would want the truth about his murder "released" to a public that remains ignorant of the facts.

[Mika]

16. Malik always said that in America the only place for a black man to get an education....

.. was in prison.

---