June 14, 2022

Chairwoman Patricia K. Cushwa

Greg Thornton, Assistant General Counsel

United States Parole Commission

90 K Street N.E. 3rd Floor

Washington, DC 20530

Warden Francisco Quintana

United States Bureau of Prisons

FMC Lexington

3301 Leestown Road

Lexington, KY 40511

Honorable Merrick Garland, Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20530

Lisa O. Monaco, Deputy Attorney General

Office of the Deputy Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20530

Dear U.S. Parole Commission, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and U.S. Department of Justice,

We, the undersigned clergy, write to express our collective support for the immediate release of Mutulu Shakur from prison. We strongly urge you to use your authority to do so. As faith leaders, we believe in redemption and salvation - tenets that could not be more appropriately understood than in the case of this 71 year old man in failing health who has been incarcerated for the past 36 years. Mr. Shakur is terminally ill with less than 6 months to live and is currently housed at the U.S. Bureau of Prison Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

We understand and appreciate the seriousness of the crimes for which he was convicted. Our request is in no way meant to denigrate the victims’ families or ignore the loss of life. It is our belief that Mr. Shakur has been more than adequately punished for those acts. The continued incarceration of this terminally ill senior citizen serves no useful purpose as Mr. Shakur represents absolutely no threat to public safety. For more than three decades, he has had no serious infractions in prison. This exemplary accomplishment coupled with his age and dozens of programs, classes and certificates he has been awarded all provide ample reason for you to feel confident that releasing him is the right and humane thing to do.

Prior to his incarceration, Mr. Shakur championed community health with groundbreaking healing practices to create the first acupuncture detoxification program in America. His program of harm reduction improved the lives of so many men and women in communities throughout the South Bronx. This acupuncture clinic rose to prominence and still functions to this day. Some of those who benefited from the program became acupuncturists themselves. Dr. Mutulu Shakur's legacy is cemented within this profound story of community healing and activism. Throughout his 36 years in prison he has maintained a close and nurturing relationship with his children who anxiously await his release so that they can provide for and take care of him in his final stage of life.

His release would pose absolutely no threat to public safety. This is supported by BOP’s own PATTERN risk assessment tool, which has determined Dr. Shakur is in the lowest possible risk category. Studies by the Department of Justice (DOJ) have also shown that based on Dr. Shakur’s age, he poses almost no risk of recidivism. Current and former staff have supported his release on parole, but the US Parole Commission has denied him parole 8 times.

Mr. Shakur’s critical health situation is of enormous and urgent concern to us. He has received a diagnosis of advanced bone marrow cancer caused by multiple myeloma. He had already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and glaucoma. In 2013, he suffered from a stroke that required several months for recovery. In 2019 he experienced increasing pain; after months of medical neglect, advanced bone marrow cancer was diagnosed. Now, he is suffering from extensive painful bone lesions, caused by the growth of the bone marrow cancer in parts of his spine, ribs and pelvis. Mr. Shakur’s oncologist treating him through the BOP has stated that Mr. Shakur is terminal with less than 6 months to live.

For all of the reasons stated above, we unconditionally call upon you to release Mr. Shakur from prison immediately. When he is released, we pledge to stand with you and champion your just and humane decision in the midst of this crisis situation.

Thank you,

Pastor Herbert Daughtry

Founder and President Emeritus House of the Lord Church

Reverend Lukata Mjumbe

Witherspoon Presbyterian Church

Princeton, NJ

Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant

New Birth Church

Stonecrest, GA

Pastor Mike McBride

National Director of LIVE FREE USA

Lead Pastor, The Way Church

Berkeley, CA

Dr. Topeka K. Sam

Founder & CEO, The Ladies of Hope Ministries, Inc.

Pastor William D. Smart Jr.

President/CEO, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California

Pastor Rev. Dr. James M Thomas

Living Word Community Church

Los Angeles, CA

Rev. Dr. K.W. Tulloss

President, Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California

The Reverend Kaji S. Dousa

Senior Pastor, Park Avenue Christian Church

New York

The Reverend Dr. Chloe Breyer

Director, The Interfaith Center of New York

Rev. Stephen A. Green

St. Luke AME Church

New York, NY

Kenyatta Bakeer

Leader, ISLAH Los Angeles

Nana Dr. Lawson Bush V

Priest at House of Light

Professor, California State LA

Dr. Tabatha L. Jones Jolivet

Clergy 4 Black Lives

Reverend Eddie Anderson

McCarty Memorial Christian Church

Los Angeles, CA

Rev. E. Regis Bunch

Pastor, Fifth Christian Church Disciples Of Christ

Rev. Karlene Griffiths Sekou

Rev. Osagyefo Sekou

Valley and Mountain Fellowship

Rev. Nikia S. Robert, PhD

Executive Director, Abolitionist Sanctuary

Professor, Pomona College

Reverend. Dr. Roslyn M. Satchel

First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Santa Monica

Mt. Welcome Baptist Church of Decatur GA

Professor, The Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University

Rev. Edward Is

President, Black AAutonomy Network community Organization

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

Pastor Cue J. Marie

The Row LA- The Church Without Walls-Skid Row

Oluwo/Babalawo Jahsun Ifakolade Edmonds

Idin Kaa Ifá Temple

Reverend Lisa Perry-Wood

First Parish

Brookline, MA

Rev Dr Lewis E Logan, II

Sr Pastor, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church

Covington, GA

Felisha Chism

Clergy

Pastor Shep Crawford

Senior Pastor, The Experience Christian Ministries

Imam Nadim Sulaiman Ali

Community Masjid Of Atlanta

Jim Anderson

President, Peace Action New York State

Akil Fahd

Researcher, Al-Ummah

Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar

Scholar and Strategist

Hindu Pandit and Scholar

Rabbi Aryeh Cohen

Marcia L Dyson

Founder, Women’s Global Institute

Pastor Kenyatta Bush

Liberty Springs Baptist Church

Desta Goehner

Spiritual Director, ELCA

Imam Abdal Qaadir Gidadu

The Jamaa’at of the Shehu in America

Los Angeles, CA

Rev. Dr. Eleanor Moody-Shepherd

Retired pastor, Presbyterian USA

Rev. Dr. Deborah Jenkins

Senior Pastor, Faith @ Work Christian Church

Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid

The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood Inc

.

Imam Yusuf Ramadan

Association of African American Imams

Imam Abdul Azeez

Ashshifaa inc / al Masjidu Adam

Rev. Cece Jones-Davis

Executive Director, Sing For Change, Inc.

Imam Musa Y Abdul Ali

Islamic community

Rev. Dr. Melva L. Sampson

Pink Robe Chronicles

Imam Dr. Salahuddin M. Muhammad

As Salaam Islamic Center

Imam Dr. Abdus-Salaam Musa

Islamic Circle of North America

Rabbi Barat Ellman, Ph.D.

Bishop Osiris Imhotep

Minister Maria V Gonzalez-Lee

Dr. Catherine Meeks

Founding Executive Director, Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing

Reverend Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith

Agape international Spiritual Center

Hajj Dawoud S Adeyola

Imam / University professor

Islamic Cultural Center of Niagara Falls, Inc

Rev. Dr. Derrick S. Johnson Sr.

Assistant Pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church

Rev. Joe Cleveland

Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs, NY

Rev. Michael Walrond

Senior Pastor, First Corinthian Baptist Church

Rev. Rae Huang

Presbyterian Church (USA)

El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan

President & Director of Operations, The Aafia Foundation, Inc.

Rev. Joan Steadman

Agape International Spiritual Center

Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil

African American Imams

Pastor Christine Suh

Bryson White

Faith Leadership Coordinator, Faith In the Valley

Rev. Verona Garland

Assistant Minister, Agape Bay Area

Onleilove Chika Alston

Apostle, Prophetic Whirlwind Ministries

Rev. Kevin Kitrell Ross

Senior Minister, Unity of Sacramento International Spiritual Center

Imam Abdul Azeem Khan

Council of African Imams

Minister Ben Owens

Reverend T. Renée Crutcher

Founder, The Armelia Project, Atlanta, GA and Huntsville, AL

Minister Diane Ujiiye

APIRISE

Okema Diaz

New York Theological Seminary

Dr. Ihsan Bagbu

MANA

Ishmawil Abdul-Matin.

NYS Majlis Ash-Shura for Muslim Chaplains

Dr. James Howard Hill, Jr

University of Oklahoma

Rev. Aikya Param

Staff Minister, Agape Bay Area

Imam Al Amin Latif

Reverend Dr. Anthony Everett

Executive Director, Mission Behind Bars and Beyond Inc.

Jia Johnson

Director, Solidarity Building Initiative

Mccormick Theological Seminary

The Rev. Madison T. Shockley II

Pastor, Pilgrim United Church of Christ

Imam Zulqarnain Abdu-Shahid

Baiytul Jamaat House of Community

Imam Luqman Abdush-Shahid

Bilal Ibn Rabah Islamic Center, Inc

Imam Shamsud-Din Ali

Majlis As-Shura

801 Roaring Falls Ave Henderson, NV 80952

Reverend Dr. Cheryl J. Ward

Agape International Spiritual Center

Imam Muhammad Toure’

The Jama’at of the Shehu in America/Fodiwa Inc.

Atlanta, GA

The Reverend Clyde Kuemmerle, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Ecclesia Ministries of New York

Imam SHUAIB M.A

Masjid Tajul-huda

Spring Cooke, Ed.D

Culver Palms Church of Christ

Imam Hamza Perez

Tariqa Fodiawa

Rabbi José Rolando Matalon

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun

Imam Isa Mateen

Majlis Ash Shura Philadelphia

Reverend Erica N. Wiliams

Founder, Set It Off Movement

Rabbi Joshua Saltzman

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Charles Sullivan

President, International CURE

Reverend Shelly Davis

Pastor, East Congregational Church of Milton, MA, United Church of Christ

Imam Luqman Abdush-Shahid

Bilal Ibn Rabah Islamic Center, Inc.

Kamal Hassan

Reverend, Presbyterian Church USA

Imam Leonard Stevenson

Jama’at of Shehu Uthman Dan Fodio

Rev. Jason Daveon Mitchell

Agape International Spiritual Center

Dr. Dorethea B. Satchel

African Methodist Episcopal Church

The 11th Episcopal District

Assistant Imam Alprentice McCutchen

Masjid Sabur Inc.

Dr. Claire Davidson Frederick

Worship Pastor, All Saints Church of Christ

Imam Abdur rahim Ali

Malcolm X Islamic Center

The Rev. F. Romall Smalls, M.Div.

Grace Baptist Church, Mount Vernon, NY

Rev. Victor Cyrus-Franklin

Inglewood First United Methodist Church &

Grace United Methodist Church of Los Angeles, CA

Rev. Dr. Willie Dwayne Francois III

President, The Black Church Center for Justice & Equality

Rev. Dr. M W Eagle

Founder, Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children (MOMYC)LA

Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek

Beacon Hebrew Alliance

Rev. Dr. Madeline McClenney, Ph.D

President/Founder, Exodus Foundation.org

Pastor Jennifer Guerra Aldana

Church of the Nazarene

Rev. James Woodall

Former State President, Georgia NAACP

Rev. Andrew Stever

ELCA

Rev. Claudia De la Cruz

Co Director, The People’s Forum

Reverend Della Owens

Saint James Christian Church

Dorlimar Lebrón Malavé

Lead Pastor, FSUMC The Peoples Church

163 E 111th St, New York,NY 10029

Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

Director, Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary

Rev. Dr. Nyle Fort

Organizer and Professor

Dream Defenders and Columbia University

Rev. Terrance L. Thomas

Senior Pastor, African Methodist Episcopal Church

Dr. Tyree Anderson

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Ensley

Minister Ken Brown

Former national staff, Justice & Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Sean L. Holland

Sr. Pastor, Epicenter of Worship Church - Lansing, MI

Mia Hash Sloan

Faith leader, St. Peter’s Church

Rev. Wesley Morris

Senior Pastor of Faith Community Church

Reverend Michelle Higgins

Senior Pastor, St. John’s The Beloved Community, United Church of Christ

Matt Meyer

Professor & Chair, International Fellowship of Reconciliation

Rev. George McLaird

Presbyterian

Reverend Frank Morales

Episcopal priest

Brother Michael Gosch, CSV

Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians)

Rev. Sadie Stone

Bethany United Methodist Church, San Francisco CA

Rev. Kerlin Richter

Episcopal Priest

Rev. Dr. Andre E. Johnson

Senior Pastor, Gifts of Life Ministries

Reverend Edith A. Love

Unitarian Universalist Community Minister

Rev. Earle J. Fisher, Ph.D.

Senior Pastor, Abyssinian Baptist Church (Memphis)

Rabbi Fern Feldman

Lishkon Ba'Arafel

Re. Corey Turnpenny

United Methodist Church

Rev. Sarah Henkel

United Presbyterian Church of Middletown, NY

Rev. Annie Gonzalez

First Parish in Bedford MA

Rev. Denise Griebler

Pastor, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

Abby Brockman, MDiv, BCC

Chaplain, Seattle Children's

Minister Francine M Newman

Nondenominational

Rabbi Andrea Cohen Kiener

Rabbi Debra Kolodny

As the Spirit Moves Us

Rabbi Becky Silverstein

Boston, MA

Rabbi Dev Noily

Senior Rabbi, Kehilla Community Synagogue

Oakland, CA

Rabbi Mordechai Liebling

Jewish Reconstructionist

Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife

Kohenet and Kesher Pittsburgh

Rev. Dr. Rosalyn R Nichols

Pastor, Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church

Memphis, TN

Reverend Anthony S. Carroll

First Pilgrim Baptist Church

Camden, Delaware

Rev. Ayanna Watkins

Clergy, Christian Church (DoC)

Rev. Deborah Lee

Director, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity

Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein

Chicago, IL

Reverend Charles Boyer,

Founding Director, Salvation & Social Justice, New Jersey

Reverend Dr. Joseph Scrivener, Sr.,

Pastor, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa, AL

Reverend Karen Hernandez-Granzen,

Moderator, United Mercer Interfaith Organization,  New Jersey

Reverend Dr. Carol Patterson,

Founder, Setting the Captives Free Ministries, New Jersey

Rabbi Arnie Gluck,

Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough, NJ

Reverend Gregory J. Bentley,

former Co-Moderator of the General Assembly,  Presbyterian Church - USA