Governor Cuomo Do Not Commute Sentence of Nyack Brink's Robber David Gilbert

Governor Cuomo Do Not Commute Sentence of Nyack Brink's Robber David Gilbert

Started
February 19, 2021
Petition to
Governor - New York Andrew M. Cuomo and 1 other
Signatures: 2,485Next Goal: 2,500
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Why this petition matters

San Francisco District Attorney Lobbies Governor Cuomo To Commute His Father’s Sentence - A Commentary And Request for Signatures By Rockland County Legislator James Foley


The New York Post reported on February 19, 2021 that the San Francisco district attorney — whose father helped kill two cops and a guard in the infamous Brink’s armored car robbery in Nyack, New York, in 1981 — is lobbying Governor Andrew Cuomo to commute his dad’s sentence.

 

https://nypost.com/2021/02/19/son-of-brinks-truck-robbers-wants-cuomo-to-commute-dads-sentence/

 

Chesa Boudin, was 14 months old when his parents, David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin, members of the domestic terror group Weather Underground, dropped him off at a baby-sitter and then helped pull off the heinous heist in Nanuet, Rockland County which resulted in three deaths.

 

Two Nyack policemen, Sgt. Edward O’Grady and Officer Waverly Brown — as well as Brink’s guard Peter Paige — were killed in the robbery and the ensuing shootout at a nearby roadblock.

 

While we have the greatest sympathy for Chesa Boudin’s loss of his father’s presence in his life and while we recognize that forgiveness of those who repent is to be granted, we must not forgive the heinous nature of the crime that was committed nor can we withdraw the penalty that was imposed.

 

I oppose all efforts to have David Gilbert’s sentence commuted by Governor Cuomo. Without the intervention of a New York State governor, Gilbert will not be eligible for parole until 2056. My belief is that Gilbert should remain in prison at this time.


I sympathize with District Attorney Chesa Boudin in that he was only14 months of age when his parents chose to leave him with a baby sitter while they went to commit an act of murderous terrorism. He is indeed yet one more victim of the act committed by his parents on that dreadful day.


Our sympathy, however, does not extend to the man who consciously decided to assist others in taking up arms against his own country by participating in a robbery that brought fully automatic weapons to bear against those who were sworn to serve and protect the citizens of Rockland County.

 

Our sympathy is further restrained by the fact that during his trial Gilbert managed to insult and emotionally injure this community beyond the actions for which he was tried. We note that he took as his legal position that he did not recognize the authority of the United States and claimed it had no right to put him on trial.

 

Our sympathy is additionally restrained by actions on the rendering of the jury’s verdict. Gilbert stayed in the basement of the courthouse, railing against the United States, and refused to appear in court and face his victims’ grieving relatives.

 

The sins of the father do not pass to the children and we are encouraged by the knowledge that DA Boudin is probably a better district attorney given his own personal family history and his personal knowledge of the pain of a life of incarceration.


However, it is our belief the power that comes from the office of San Francisco DA should not be used to lobby on behalf of one’s own family member. This is a misguided use of a DA’s power and could be interpreted as a further insult to the family of the victims of this act, Nyack policemen, Sgt. Edward O’Grady, Officer Waverly Brown, and Brink’s guard Peter Paige.


As a Rockland County Legislator representing part of The Nyacks who was a ninth grader when this event occurred close to my home in Rockland County, I can attest from first hand experience of this community that we are still processing the loss and trauma from that day. We are still trying to make sense of what Gilbert did.


Our pain and loss remain, as does that for DA Boudin. David Gilbert ought to remain imprisioned.


To the citizens of Rockland County I respectfully ask that you join me in signing the petition presented in this link .....

 

Thank you.
James Foley
Rockland County Legislator For District 17

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Signatures: 2,485Next Goal: 2,500
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