| # | Name | Comments |
|---|
| 1 | Anonymous | I have known Arnie King for over 15 years and I have met with him at least once a month during this time, Arnie King is an exceptionl human being. He is emotionally and spiritually mature, generous, and compassionate. He cares deeply about the future of at-risk youth. After 35 years of imprisonment, It is time for his release into the greater community where he will undoubtedly make a significant positive contribution to society. |
| 2 | Nadine Cohen | I belive Arnie King has paid his debt to society and can be a productive member of society upon his release. Continued incarceration will serve no legitimate purpose. I urge to commute Mr. King's sentence. |
| 3 | Justin Freed | I have known and worked with Mr. King for a decade. He has more than redeemed and transformed himself into a valuable citizen. His commutation is overdue. He will make a positive contribution to society and family. |
| 4 | Kathaleen Dufton | I grew up with Arnold. I know of his early dysfunctional life and of his very productive life of today. I have visited him and have email correspondence with him. I believe that he has served his time for a drug affected tragic mistake over thirty years ago. I believe he would be an asset to any community and deserves the opportunity to serve others and experience a life outside of prison. |
| 5 | Rodrigo Gutierrez | |
| 6 | Claire I. Barker | |
| 7 | Bette J. Harrison | I have known Arnie for over 20 years and support his commutation for release. |
| 8 | Natalie Burnett | |
| 9 | Kim Pereira | |
| 10 | Susan Mortimer | Commute Arnie's Sentence Now! |
| 11 | joan perkins | The Mr King who developed in the last 35 years - has an amazing story to bring any kids - 13-35, their parents, and beyond. The most appropriate way to help at-risk families is to let someone who has been there and grown beyond be free to do so.
Let's use his life to change the shape of others. |
| 12 | martin wermont | If Justice has any meNING, THIS COMMUTATION IS LONG OVERDUE.... |
| 13 | Jamie Bissonette | This signature reflects organizational support of the AFSC as well as individual support of the signer. |
| 14 | Lenore Balliro | |
| 15 | Dominic Desiata | Free Arnie! It's been long enough! |
| 16 | Linda M. Thurston | I have known Arnie King for nearly 30 years, since I directed the criminal justice program at the American Friends Service Committee. I stayed in contact with Mr. King when I left Boston to run AFSC's national program in Philadelphia, and have maintained contact in the years since -- far too many years. I urge Governor Patrick to commute the sentence of this man who has given so much to the community despite his incarceration, and who has so much more to give. May he do so in freedom. |
| 17 | Quentin C. Pair | |
| 18 | James G. Stewart | Please commute the sentence of this worthy man. |
| 19 | Steven Gillis | As the current Vice-President of Steelworkers Local 8751, representing 800 Boston, MA, school bus drivers, I urge the immediate commutation of Arnold King's sentence. I have met Mr. King, and followed his case closely over the many years of his incarceration. As someone who works closely with young people in an urban environment, I have seen first hand how Mr. King's work and writings, while he's been imprisoned, have been a positive influence to young people who are coping with the every day, real life issues of making the right choices, crime and rehabilitation, punishment and redemption, and living life free of the criminal justice system. Rarely has a person jailed to keep them away from society been able to give back so much experience as has Mr. King, who through his single minded dedication to making things right, has struggled to offer his insights to future generations. Please consider Mr. King's many contributions to creating a more peaceful world when taking up his request for commutation. |
| 20 | stephanie Athey | |
| 21 | Jennifer Zachariah | Please free Arnie King. His acts were no demonstration of the character and dignity of his person. He has gone over and above to demonstrate that he deserves to be out of prison and sharing all that he knows and stands for with the public. If the prison system is anything it claims to stand for(rehabilitation facility) once an individual has demonstrated rehabilitation they should be released and given opportunities to move on with the rest of their life. Free Arnie King. |
| 22 | Ray Davies | |
| 23 | James Taylor | I know Arnie to be a caring and intelligent man who is in a unique position to understand and empathize with at-risk youth and others in need of help. I got to know him while writing a newspaper article on inmates pursuing higher education and he made an immediate and lasting impact on me. Please allow him to share his unique and invaluable talents with the citizens of Massachusetts and the world. |
| 24 | Nancy Ahmadifar | Boston desperately needs Arnie King's leadership here in the community, especially in working with youth. He has made amazing contributions to public safety from the "inside," but can do far more on the "outside." |
| 25 | Anonymous | Arnie King has counseled, inspired, and motivated many people even while he is behind bars. He performs a needed function "behind barbed wire." I'm one of the people he inspires. He is an extraordinary individual who would do so much good back in society. |
| 26 | Kate Byrne | I first met Arnie King in 1986. He is a tremendous human being. He has turned his life around. He needs to be allowed to move forward in the world. There is much he can do and teach. Please, commute his sentence. Thank you. Kate Byrne |
| 27 | PRISCILLA CLARK | I have known Arnold King for over 35 years and I thoroughly support the petition of Commutation of Sentence for Arnold. I feel that he would be an asset to any community as he has committed himself to rehabilitation through atonement as well as education and committment to at risk youth, and has sustained the love and support of his family, friends and community.
Thank you for your anticipated support in this request for the commute of Arnold's life sentence. |
| 28 | Benjamin Evans | |
| 29 | Anonymous | |
| 30 | Edward Williams | This man is the definition of "rehabilitation". He has been a more positive contributor to society than many who have never been incarcerated, and his accomplishments obviously speak for themselves. |
| 31 | Brooks Berndt | |
| 32 | Michael Grant | |
| 33 | Dortricia Grant | My son asked me to sign and I believe it is for a good cause... |
| 34 | Haywood Fennell, Sr. | The power lies in being able to recognize mistakes that have been made in our respective lives and to grow from them in a positive way. Arnie King has done more than that in his process of understanding the importance of humility. Keeping him away from a community that can benefit from his experiences should now come to an end and Arnie should be allowed back into our community. |
| 35 | Anonymous | |
| 36 | Bob Blumenthal | |
| 37 | Ron J Shapiro | |
| 38 | Paule Verdet, PhD | Governor, during sixteen years of teaching in the Boston University Prison Education Program I have had ample opportunity to see Arnold King in action at Bay State prison. He has been a stabilizing and inspiring presence among his fellow prisoners, a model of courageous determination to live a life of repentance and of dedication to people at risk, especially youth.
I attended his hearing of April 2002 and I have studied its transcript. He was remarkably able to describe for the Board his transformation from an aimless youngster to a prisoner working out his redemption through study and to service of others. I wrote a careful critique of the rationale of the Board members who did not recommend commutation.
Governor Patrick, you could show clearly the goals you intend our prisons to pursue, by commuting Arnold King's sentence. Such a decision would be welcome as the dawn of a new day by the whole prison population of our Commonwealth. It would make it clear to everyone that his exemple as a prisoner is worth following. |
| 39 | Susan Huskins | I believe 36 years is more than enough time to serve. It is my opinion that Arnie will be an asset to our community and our youth. Who better than someone in his situation can relate with the troubled youth of today. Keeping Arnie in prison longer will not be to our advantage. He has shown himself to be a changed man from the one that entered prison. |
| 40 | Marva King | |
| 41 | peter berkowitz | |
| 42 | Astrid afKlinteberg | |
| 43 | Laura Efron | I've worked with Arnie for a year now as editor of Whats Up Magazine, and am continually impressed with his thoughtfulness and dedication to larger social movements. I believe Arnie would be a great asset to the larger community, and hope he has the chance to experience that again. |
| 44 | Robin Ackerman | |
| 45 | Jennifer Bills, Esq. | |
| 46 | Judy Somberg | |
| 47 | Janet I Jones | I worked with Mr. King as an instructor, a mentor, a counselor, a co-instructor and co-author, and as a program director while training inmates as peer counselors. Over the years, I became his friend and colleague. I have watched his continued growth and development as a valuable member of society, a visionary youth worker, and an asset to the communities he serves through barbed wire. Keeping him incarcerated rather than releasing him to continue his life's work and to become a productive and valuable member of his community serves no constructive purpose, and wastes the resources of the State of MA. He was a drug addicted, angry and uneducated teenager when he committed the crime that got him locked up. He has demonstrated great remorse and for as long as I have known him has worked in restitution for his deeds of long ago. He is no longer that young, troubled and addicted teen; he is a well educated, committed member of the community who serves youth and his fellow man at every opportunity. Not only does he not pose a threat to anyone, he is a much needed role model for the youth who could benefit greatly from his release. I fully support the efforts to have the governor commute his life sentence, allowing him the opportunity to prove himself worthy for parole release. |
| 48 | Renny Cushing | |
| 49 | Dr. Mechthild Nagel | It is rare that a person can transform himself in
such peaceful ways as Mr King has. I support
clemency for him. |
| 50 | Anonymous | |