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April 29, 2008
Jesse Boyar---Long-time fighter for prisoners
Below is an obituary notice for Jesse Boyar, long-time fighter for prisoners and against the prison system. Jesse's son Patrick spent many many years in the Corcoran SHU but last week Jesse told me that he was relieved that Patrick, who is doing 25-life on a 3rd strike of petty theft with a prior, was transferred to Pleasant Valley State Prison and was doing much better. Jesse was active in FACTS and Extend a Hand for Justice in Bakersfield. For years, Jesse would picket outside Corcoran wearing his VFW cap and sash, greeting visitors to the prison and recruiting them to the work.
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Our Comrade, Jesse Boyar passed away today, but be sure, the brother was not on his knees!! Jesse was a fighter without any intention of laying down.
He came to L.A. for an April 16th action in front of the Governor's office less than two weeks ago with a van load of members from Bakersfield FACTS . At that time he told me that he tho't he was a goner a few days earlier but all I saw was the same feisty man who wouldn't back up from a fight. Like our brother Leon, who left us in 2006, Jesse is the promise of that better, more just society we are fighting so hard to build. I can see them now strategizing our future!!
We've lost a friend, a warrior, a role model and a father whose fight for his son Patrick will be carried on by all Striker families, all prisoner families, all who understand that people are not born to be caged. We will miss you, brother Jesse.
geri silva
FACTS Education Fund
Families to Amend California's Three Strikes
Posted by lois at April 29, 2008 09:22 PM