’70s radical David Gilbert granted parole in Brink’s robbery

ALBANY, N.Y. – Former Weather Underground extremist David Gilbert has been granted parole aft 40 years down bars for his relation successful a deadly 1981 Brink’s robbery that was a convulsive echo of left-wing extremism calved successful the 1960s, the authorities corrections section said Tuesday.

Gilbert, 76, has been imprisoned since soon aft the infamously botched armored car robbery successful which a defender and 2 constabulary officers were killed. He became eligible for parole lone aft his 75 years-to-life condemnation was shortened by Gov. Andrew Cuomo successful August, hours earlier helium near office.

Gilbert appeared earlier the authorities parole committee Oct. 19 and was subsequently granted parole, Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the New York authorities corrections department, said Tuesday.

He volition beryllium capable to permission Shawangunk Correctional Facility successful the Hudson Valley adjacent month.

Supporters — including his son, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin — lobbied to person Gilbert articulation different defendants successful the lawsuit who person been released from prison. That imaginable angered immoderate section officials successful the Hudson Valley and household members who said his merchandise would insult the representation of the slain men.

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In a statement, Rockland County Executive Ed Day called the determination a “cruel and unjust slap successful the look to the families” of those killed.

“Former Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Parole Board should beryllium ashamed for allowing this home violent to locomotion escaped connected our streets,” Day said. “There’s nary crushed that David Gilbert should not person to look the afloat consequences of his heinous crimes, nary substance however overmuch clip has passed.”

Gilbert and different erstwhile members of the Weather Underground, a militant radical that grew retired of the anti-Vietnam War movement, had joined with members of the Black Liberation Army successful the Oct. 20, 1981, robbery. They stole $1.6 cardinal successful currency from an armored car extracurricular the Nanuet Mall adjacent the Hudson River assemblage of Nyack.

Brink’s defender Peter Paige and 2 Nyack constabulary officers, Sgt. Edward O’Grady and Officer Waverly Brown, were killed successful the holdup and ensuing shootout astatine a adjacent roadblock.

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Though unarmed, Gilbert was charged with robbery and murder, since radical were killed during the crime. Also charged was Chesa Boudin’s mother, Kathy Boudin. The lad was 14 months aged erstwhile his parents were imprisoned.

In a sometimes raucous trial, Gilbert and 2 different defendants formed themselves arsenic state fighters and deemed the proceedings illegitimate. At 1 tribunal session, Gilbert and suspect Judith Clark raised their fists and shouted “Free the land!”

Kathy Boudin avoided a harsher condemnation by pleading blameworthy and was paroled successful 2003. Clark was granted parole successful 2019, 3 years aft Cuomo commuted her sentence. She had been denied parole aft her archetypal proceeding 2 years earlier.

Gilbert was not eligible for parole until 2056 earlier Cuomo commuted his sentence. The erstwhile politician said Gilbert made important contributions to AIDS acquisition and prevention programs, and worked arsenic a tutor, instrumentality room clerk, paralegal assistant, teacher’s adjutant and adjutant successful assorted situation programs.

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Chesa Boudin was raised by his parents’ Weather Underground compatriots, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn.

He ran a progressive run for San Francisco territory lawyer successful 2019 successful which helium said visiting his parents successful situation showed him the transgression justness strategy was broken.

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Matthews reported from New York City.

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