Former members of the Weather Underground, Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, discuss their involvement in a robbery and their prison experiences. Their son, Chesa Boudin, shares the challenges of visiting his incarcerated parents. The podcast touches on changing perspectives on sentencing and the criminal justice system.
Chesa Boudin grew up with two sets of parents, his biological parents Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, who were activists in the Weather Underground, and his adoptive parents Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn.
Chesa reflects on the concept of proportionality in the criminal justice system and discusses the application of felony murder charges that led to his parents' lengthy sentences despite not personally causing harm.
Deep dives
Murdock Murders The Movie
Murdock Murders The Movie is a two-night event starring Bill Pullman as Alec Murdock, based on the true story of a double homicide that exposes a web of lies and dark secrets in the Murdock family, a local dynasty in the South Carolina Low Country. The murder of his wife and son unveils a national fascination with the unraveling of Alec's once-blessed life. Premiering on Lifetime, this thrilling two-part lifetime original is not to be missed.
Chasa's Childhood and Parents' Involvement
Chasa grew up with two sets of parents due to his parents' involvement in the Weather Underground and their subsequent arrests. His biological parents, Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, were activists in the radical political movements of the 1960s and 70s. Chasa vividly remembers visiting his parents in prison as a child, communicating through thick plexiglass walls via telephone. He details the events of the armored truck robbery that led to their incarceration and the impact it had on his early life.
Life with Adoptive Parents
Chasa was adopted by Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, members of the Weather Underground who lived in Chicago. Despite the complex family dynamics, Chasa did not feel shame or secrecy about his parents' incarceration. He openly discussed his upbringing, frequently visiting his incarcerated parents and even bringing high school friends along to meet them. Chasa's adoptive parents fully supported his relationship with his biological parents and facilitated visits and communication.
Reflections on Parents' Sentences and Becoming a Lawyer
Having become a lawyer himself, Chasa reflects on his parents' lengthy sentences and the concept of proportionality in the criminal justice system. He discusses the arbitrary outcomes and the application of felony murder charges, which resulted in his parents being convicted of murder despite not personally causing harm. Chasa's perspective on their sentences evolved but remained challenging, as he dealt with his own experiences as a parent and contemplated the choices they made.
Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert were once members of the radical activist group the Weather Underground. In 1981, they helped members of the Black Liberation Army rob a Brink’s armored car at the Nanuet National Bank. Their son, Chesa Boudin, was 14 months old at the time. He spent his childhood visiting his parents in prison.
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