Warren Kimbro facts for kids
Warren Aloysious Kimbro (born April 29, 1934 – died February 3, 2009) was a member of the Black Panther Party in New Haven, Connecticut. He was found responsible for the death of New York City Panther Alex Rackley on May 21, 1969. This happened during the first of the New Haven Black Panther trials in 1970.
Early Life and Involvement
Warren Kimbro lived at the New Haven Panther headquarters. This was at 365 Orchard Street. Alex Rackley was held there for two days. He was suspected of being an informant for the FBI's COINTELPRO program.
After this, Kimbro, Bridgeport, Connecticut Panther Lonnie McLucas, and national Panther field marshal George W. Sams, Jr. drove Rackley to the marshes of Middlefield, Connecticut. There, Kimbro and McLucas shot Rackley. They did this on Sams' orders. Sams later said that national Panther leader Bobby Seale had ordered the killing. Seale had been speaking at Yale University the day before the incident. The jury in Seale's later trial could not decide, so the case was not tried again.
Court Case and New Beginnings
During the court case, Sams and Kimbro both agreed to tell what they knew to the court. In return, they received a reduced charge. They were sentenced to a long time in prison but served only four years.
In 1972, Kimbro met with a group that decides if prisoners can leave early. He was allowed to attend Harvard University's School of Education. This was a big step for him.
In 1975, after only four years in prison, Kimbro became the Assistant Dean of Eastern Connecticut State University.
Helping Others After Prison
For more than 20 years, Warren Kimbro was the president and CEO of Project MORE. This is a non-profit organization in New Haven. It helps people who have been in prison. Project MORE offers daily programs and places to live. It helps former prisoners get back into society.
Kimbro also spent many years volunteering. He helped at the Pilot Pen International tennis tournament in New Haven.
A book was written about the Rackley case and Kimbro's life journey. The book is called Murder in the Model City: The Black Panthers, Yale and the Redemption of a Killer. It was written in 2006 by Paul Bass and Douglas Rae.
