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    Vol.60/No.13           April 1, 1996 
 
 
Curtis Supporters Fight Illinois Decision To Reject His Parole  

BY FRANK FORRESTAL

CHICAGO - Mark Curtis's application for parole in Illinois has been rejected, lawyers for the imprisoned political activist were told March 19. Four months ago, on November 21, Iowa parole officials voted to grant Curtis freedom on parole. Curtis, a member of the Socialist Workers Party and union activist, was framed up on charges of attempted rape and burglary in 1988 and has served more that seven years in Iowa prison.

Curtis had asked to be paroled to Chicago, where his wife Kate Kaku lives. From the outset, Illinois authorities refused to cooperate with Curtis in processing his application. One of the "problems" they cited was that his marriage to Kaku was "common law." Curtis and Kaku formalized their marriage March 11.

While a certified copy of his marriage license was in the mail to Illinois, Curtis was told by his prison counselor that prison authorities had received a letter from Illinois Department of Corrections official Vivian Sneed saying he was denied parole for three reasons: he was not a resident of Illinois, had no family there, and did not have a valid marriage license.

Sneed told Curtis's lawyer March 19 that Illinois officials have since received the marriage license. However, Sneed said, since they have closed his file, Curtis will have to reapply.

"We need to launch an immediate, international campaign to protest this decision, and to urge Illinois authorities to immediately grant Curtis parole to Chicago," John Studer, coordinator of the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, told a meeting of his supporters at the Independence Library here March 19. "To mount this kind of campaign will cost money," Studer added. "We need to launch a fund to raise $10,000 over the next month to help cover printing, mailing, and legal costs."

Letters urging Curtis be allowed parole to Illinois can be sent to Vivian Sneed, Illinois Department of Corrections, Executive Office Building, 1301 Concordia Court, Springfield, IL 62794-9277. They can be faxed to (217) 522-9652.

Studer asked supporters to send copies of their letters to the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, Box 477419, Chicago, IL 60647.

 
 
 
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