Sirhan Sirhan, the convicted murderer of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was granted parole [1] this week by a two-member panel.
Originally, Sirhan was sentenced to death, but that was later commuted to life in prison. He’d been up for parole review 16 times before being released this time.
Sirhan has been in prison for over 50 years for the 1968 murder. Parole still has to be approved by a parole review board and then California Governor Gavin Newsom.
After he assassinated Kennedy, brother to President John F. Kennedy, Sirhan, a Christian Palestinian from Jordan, said he committed the crime because he was angry at Kennedy’s support of Israel.
California has granted parole to a man convicted of assassinating a Presidential candidate in the midst of a national election. That act altered American history.
This is astonishing, and a terrible message to send. https://t.co/2JSDc9cueQ [2]
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) August 27, 2021 [3]
Sirhan appeared virtually from the San Diego County prison, where he said, “I would never put myself in jeopardy again. You have my pledge. I will always look to safety and peace and non-violence.”
Both of Robert Kennedy’s sons supported Sirhan’s release. The Associated Press said that Robert Kennedy, Jr, supported the release, as did Douglas Kennedy, who was a toddler at the time of his father’s death.
“I’m overwhelmed just by being able to view Mr. Sirhan face to face,” Douglas told Fox News. “I think I’ve lived my life both in fear of him and his name in one way or another. And I am grateful today to see him as a human being worthy of compassion and love.”
This piece was written by Leah Anaya on August 29, 2021. It originally appeared in ThinBlueLineTV.com [4] and is used by permission.