In New York, former Black Panther Herman Bell has been granted parole after 44 years in prison for the killing of two police officers. Bell pleaded not guilty at trial and has said witness coercion and prosecutorial misconduct led to his conviction. His expected release date is April 17. In their decision to release Bell, who is now 69 years old, parole board members cited a “noteworthy” letter from an unnamed person—likely the son of one of the victims, Officer Waverly Jones. He wrote of Bell’s release, “The simple answer is it would bring joy and peace as we have already forgiven Herman Bell publicly. … On the other hand, to deny him parole again would cause us pain as we are reminded of the painful episode each time he appears before the board.”