Yoko Ono’s Open Letter-opposition to the potential release of the Killer.

The assailant who fatally shot John Lennon outside the Dakota apartment building in New York on 8 December 1980 received a sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment. This verdict stipulated that the perpetrator would be required to serve at least 20 years before becoming eligible for parole consideration.

In the year 2000, having fulfilled the minimum term, the individual in question became eligible to apply for parole for the first time. Upon learning of this development, Yoko Ono, the late Mr John Lennon’s widow, composed a letter expressing her opposition to the potential release of the offender.

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Ladies and Gentlemen of the Parole Board:

This is my reply to the petition of parole made by Mark David Chapman from here on called “the subject.” It is not easy for me to write this letter to you since it is still painful for me to think of what happened that night and verbalize my thoughts logically. Forgive me if I fall short of your expectation of giving you a satisfactory opinion. But these are my sincere thoughts.

My husband John Lennon was a very special man. A man of humble origin, he brought light and hope to the whole world with his words and music. He tried to be a good power for the world, and he was. He gave encouragement, inspiration and dreams to people regardless of their race, creed and gender. For me, he was the other half of the sky. We were in love with each other like the most vehement of lovers to the last moment. For our son Sean he was the world. That world shattered when the “subject” pulled the trigger. For Julian, it was losing his father twice. For the people of the world, it was as though the light went out for a moment and darkness prevailed. With his one act of violence in those few seconds, the “subject” managed to change my whole life, devastate his sons, and bring deep sorrow and fear to the world. It was, indeed, the power of destruction at work.

At first, I had refused to acknowledge John’s death. I announced that, “There is no funeral for John.” In my mind, I was saying “BECAUSE HE IS NOT DEAD!” “Tell me he is not dead, tell me he is not dead.” I was screaming inside myself. But then, I started to hear that young girls were jumping off buildings to kill themselves. I realized then that it was not a time for me to simply wallow in my own pain. I organized a world vigil with the prayer that, together, we would somehow get through.

For the past twenty years, I’ve carried the torch John and I once carried together to try to let the darkness go. I asked the fans to remember John’s birthday, not the day of his passing. When people asked how I felt about the killer of my husband, I have always told them that I didn’t think about that day anymore. I wanted to look to the future, and not to remember that horrible moment. But in actual fact, the memory of that night has never left me for the last twenty years.

It was so cruel. So unjust. My husband did not deserve this. He was in no way ready to die. He was feeling good with the prospect of doing a concert tour after making the album which became his last. He would have gladly changed his position with the “subject,” and live the life of protection that the “subject” enjoys now. Even in confinement, my husband John would have cherished hearing voices of people he loved, enjoyed creating songs, and simply appreciated watching the sky and its changes through the seasons. John cannot do any of that now.

His family and the world rested because justice was finally done by the court. The “subject” was imprisoned. If he were to be released now, many will feel betrayed. Anger and fear would rise again.

It would also give a “go” signal to the others who would like to follow in the footsteps of the “subject” to receive world attention. I am afraid it will bring back the nightmare, the chaos and confusion once again. Myself and John’s two sons, would not feel safe for the rest of our lives. People who are in positions of high visibility and outspokenness such as John, would also feel unsafe.

Finally, it will not be safe for the “subject” himself. He will cease to have the security that the State provides him now. I understand that he has been isolated from other prisoners because of the threat of possible harm to him. Well, there are more people in the outside world who are strongly distressed about what he has done. They would feel that it is unfair that the “subject” is rewarded with a normal life while John lost his. Violence begets violence. If it is at all possible, I would like us to not create a situation which may bring further madness and tragedy to the world.

I thank you in advance for your wise and just decision. I am,

Sincerely yours,

Yoko Ono Lennon

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https://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/yoko-opposes-chapman-release

The result of the probation consideration is to deny parole.

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