Revolutionary Greetings Everyone!

I take this opportunity to address all of you in this fashion to save time and conserve material and energy for tomorrow's fight. In this missive I wish to notify you that I have "relinquished" my right to my appeal to the Division of Parole from my last parole appearance where I received a two year hit. I chose to end my appeal attempt which expires tomorrow, June 30th. Because I am scheduled to appear before the parole board again in July of 2004. Entering legal battle at this time can only result in revealing those tactics relied upon for 2004 in the event I am denied.

Robert Seth Hayes is a father, grandfather and artist. He is a black revolutionary freedom fighter who was captured and convicted in New York City in 1973 under a host of charges attributed to his membership in the Black Liberation Army, the BLA. Through his conviction he received 25 years to life. Robert Seth Hayes is one of the hundreds of political prisoners in the US. He remains behind bars and as of July 2002, he is now in his 30th year of incarceration. The following interview was recorded on August 17, 2002. The interview is also available as an audio file by clicking here.

by Crystal Hayes

My father, Robert Seth Hayes, former Black Panther Party member, has been a resident of the New York state prison system for the past 29 years, making him one of the longest held Panthers in the United States. He was arrested in September 1973 – I was only three years old at the time – sentenced in 1974, and continuously denied parole since July 1998.

His latest parole board hearing was July 2002, and again he was denied release for the third time. All this despite the fact that he has an exemplary prison record with several accomplishments, not the least of which is the successful completion of several college level courses, along with peer counselor training and mentorship programs that have enhanced his ability to serve the prison population the best way he knows how – as an advocate, teacher and leader, gaining him enormous respect from his peers.

REVOLUTIONARY GREETINGS, Comrades, Supporters, Friends, and emerging Combatants of Afrikan Liberation Struggle:

A LUTA CONTINUA' (The Struggle Continues)

The Struggle for Liberation, love, truth, peace and justice, within amerikka continues. We all must do our part to ensure that our young inherit a positive and progressive share in life's unending struggle to be! With that in mind, I'd like to share a bit of my history with you in this article. It is my hope that through my experiences, you will glean some insight and fortitude to wage arduous struggle through your own life experiences.

December 11, 2005

Revolutionary greetings, comrades, loved ones and supporters of freedom worldwide. I am Robert Seth Hayes, an African-American freedom fighter. An incarcerated political prisoner and a prisoner of war for over 32 years.

My career as a freedom fighter began with my moral upbringing. This came from diligent elders who taught by example and both guided and shaped my reasoning as I grew. As a result of this I am the reasoning person before you who is both a strong advocate for freedom and a lover of the environment.

My education blossomed through the Vietnam war and the politics unleashed from it. As a foot soldier in the United States Army, I returned home with complex understandings. I had served honorably in Vietnam, yet I felt the war was wrong. I participated in the war, yet now I condemned it. What caused these feelings of rejection at such a stage in my life? Like so many others, I found myself struggling with past traditions and indoctrination. I was determined to gain answers.

Robert Seth Hayes was born in Harlem, New York in October 1947. His father, John Franklin Hayes, was the child of sharecroppers and came to New York Cityfrom South Carolina; his mother, Francine Washington Hayes, moved to New York from Pittsburgh. Both of Mr. Hayes’ parents worked for the U.S. Postal Service, trying to provide a better life for Seth and his four brothers and sisters. They also instilled in their children the desire to work for the betterment of their community. Seth writes, “My mother taught me to visualize family universally, not individually.” Seth’s father was a World War II veteran and a member of the United Negro Improvement Association, the Black Nationalist organization founded by Marcus Garvey.

January 2, 2006

Revolutionary Greetings this New Year,
To Comrades, Known and Unknown

From Robert Seth Hayes, PP/POW
Black Panther Party, Black Liberation Army

Revolutionary Greetings to our Elders, Mothers and Fathers, Sisters and Brothers, and all the Younger Ones now setting out. With heartfelt pleasure, I extend these thoughts to you. As the holiday season draws to a close and we begin this new year, I send embraces of warmth to all Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Native Americans, and all of those supporting consciousness raising. May all of you find comfort, knowing that the work performed by you for humanity is not lost, forgotten or overlooked. All of our contributions helped to raise humanity to a higher level. Many of us have fallen and others have passed on into the next life. But each and every one of us, especially those often overlooked, have made important contributions to our struggle.

another picture of Seth with Aisha

This is a picture of Seth and his grand daughter