Malcolm X Killer Freed

Thomas Hagan, the only man who admitted his role in the 1965 assassination of black leader Malcolm X, was paroled Today. After spending 44 years in prison, he walks out at the age of 69. Since March, 1992 Hagan has been in a full-time work realease program that allowed him to live at home with his family in Brooklyn five days a week while reporting to the prison just two days. To me this does not seem fair, Malcolm is a huge part of our history and anyone involved in his murder I think should spend life in jail. Last month, Hagan pleaded his case for freedom, to return to his family, to become a substance abuse counselor and to make his mark on what time he has left in this world. "I have deep regrets about my participation in that," he told the parole board on March 3, according to a transcript. "I don't think it should ever have happened." said Hagan. He was sentenced to only 20 years in jail along with two others who may have participated in the gunning down of Malcolm X while he gave a speech in 1965. To win his release, He was required to seek, obtain and maintain a job, support his children and follow a curfew, he must continue to meet those conditions while free. Hagan speaks about the remorse he feels for what he did, but if you were so sorry, why do it at all? Well last month, he told the parole board he felt the urge to kill Malcolm X because of his inflammatory comments about the Nation's founder, and goes on to seek forgiveness by stating he did not fully understand what he was doing. To me thats just excuses, others may see it as being under the influence of radicals but Hagan must have had some sense to at least know what is wrong and right. Malcom X was a great man and would have been a great unifier if his life was'nt ended so soon.