Post by robeiae on Apr 30, 2018 8:38:57 GMT -5
newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/04/27/herman-bell-release/
This was his eighth parole hearing. As one might imagine, police orgs have been furiously opposing his parole every time it comes around. They finally failed. For those who don't know, Bell was a member of the Black Liberation Army, which was a secret group within the Black Panthers. Bell was convicted--along with others--of murdering two NYC police officers in 1971. From the CBS piece:
More recently--in 2009--Bell plead guilty to the 1971 murder of San Fran police officer John Young.
It was a different time, to be sure. And officer Jones' son--among many others--has spoken up in support of Bell's parole (not officer Piagentini's widow, however).
My own feeling is that he was convicted as he was convicted, with the possibility of parole. I don't object to his parole, but neither do I applaud it.
But there's a lot of backlash, to be sure. And the propaganda in this regard is pretty bad, imo. Look at this piece from The Post's editorial board: nypost.com/2018/04/17/367000-more-reasons-not-to-parole-cop-killer-herman-bell/
That's a lot of letters, right? But the reality behind that 367,000 is a little different: theintercept.com/2018/04/25/herman-bell-nypd-release-parole-new-york-police/
Really, the whole thing is kind of crooked, since few are taking the time to compose "letters." Here's where they come from: www.nycpba.org/community/keep-cop-killers-in-jail/
If you click the "send a letter to all" box, you go here: www.nycpba.org/community/keep-cop-killers-in-jail/cop-killers-form/?id=all
Then you just enter your name and zipcode and viola! You've written 62 letters! And I can't see anything that would prevent someone from using aliases and multiple e-mails. So the 6,000 individual complaints may be coming from far less than 6,000 actual people.
Propaganda is propaganda, no matter the goal.
Convicted cop killer Herman Bell, who fatally shot two NYPD officers in 1971, was released on parole Friday after efforts to keep him in prison failed.
In 1971, Officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini had responded to what they thought was a real 911 call. Instead, they walked into an ambush at a Harlem housing complex.
Authorities say both officers were shot multiple times, with Piagentini hit by more than 20 bullets. Bell and two other members of the Black Liberation Army were convicted of the murders.
Authorities say both officers were shot multiple times, with Piagentini hit by more than 20 bullets. Bell and two other members of the Black Liberation Army were convicted of the murders.
It was a different time, to be sure. And officer Jones' son--among many others--has spoken up in support of Bell's parole (not officer Piagentini's widow, however).
My own feeling is that he was convicted as he was convicted, with the possibility of parole. I don't object to his parole, but neither do I applaud it.
But there's a lot of backlash, to be sure. And the propaganda in this regard is pretty bad, imo. Look at this piece from The Post's editorial board: nypost.com/2018/04/17/367000-more-reasons-not-to-parole-cop-killer-herman-bell/
If the voices of New Yorkers matter, Herman Bell will remain behind bars — despite the parole board’s decision to free him.
After all, it’s not every day that 367,000 letters protest anything. Yet that’s how many the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association says its campaign to reverse the board’s decision has already drummed up.
After all, it’s not every day that 367,000 letters protest anything. Yet that’s how many the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association says its campaign to reverse the board’s decision has already drummed up.
Neither tabloid bothers to clarify that this figure in no way represents 367,000 individual people writing in protest of Bell’s release. In fact, the huge number of letters was automatically generated by fewer that 6,000 individual complaints made via the NYC PBA website.
A spokesperson for the NYC PBA confirmed that each complaint filed online generates dozens of letters. The site invites users to “send a letter for all cop killers” in a bold red font and then generates 62 separate letters — one for each “cop killer” listed on the site. But only one of the people listed is actually Herman Bell. The 367,000 figure represents all the letters produced through the automated system — part of an intensive propaganda effort on behalf of the police union to undermine the parole board’s rightful and legal ruling to release Bell.
A spokesperson for the NYC PBA confirmed that each complaint filed online generates dozens of letters. The site invites users to “send a letter for all cop killers” in a bold red font and then generates 62 separate letters — one for each “cop killer” listed on the site. But only one of the people listed is actually Herman Bell. The 367,000 figure represents all the letters produced through the automated system — part of an intensive propaganda effort on behalf of the police union to undermine the parole board’s rightful and legal ruling to release Bell.
If you click the "send a letter to all" box, you go here: www.nycpba.org/community/keep-cop-killers-in-jail/cop-killers-form/?id=all
Then you just enter your name and zipcode and viola! You've written 62 letters! And I can't see anything that would prevent someone from using aliases and multiple e-mails. So the 6,000 individual complaints may be coming from far less than 6,000 actual people.
Propaganda is propaganda, no matter the goal.
