User:DanielMichaelPerry/sandbox
Robin Palmer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Robert Palmer April 7, 1930 |
| Died | August 20, 2010 (aged 80) |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
| Organizations | |
| Political party | Youth International Party |
| Spouse | Mimi Melegrito[1] |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Laurence V. W. Palmer (brother) |
Robin Palmer, born Richard Robert Palmer (April 7, 1930 – August 20, 2010), was an American political activist, television host and producer, and convicted member of the Weather Underground.[2]
Biography[edit]
Robin Palmer was born in Harlem[3] to politically conservative parents, both of whom worked as college professors in the natural sciences. Robin's father was a supporter of anti-Communist Senator Joseph McCarthy, and their political differences caused a rift to grow between them.[1]
Robin worked a wide variety of jobs throughout his life, including working as a deep sea diver and tree surgeon. He worked as a high school English teacher in Harlem, but lost his teaching license after it was discovered that he had simultaneously been moonlighting in pornography; a turn of events covered at the time by Playboy magazine.[1]
In October 1967 Palmer participated in the March on the Pentagon which ended in a riot outside the Pentagon. It was here that he became acquainted with Abbie Hoffman who would later lead the Youth International Party, also known as the "Yippies". He would also be involved in the 1968 Columbia University protests, where he began to form a close relationship with Sam Melville. In August, during the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests, Palmer threw a chunk of concrete through a car window.[3]
Arson trial[edit]
Palmer was the leading member of a group of Weathermen who planned - and attempted to carry out - a series of firebombing attacks on various locations in New York City, beginning on the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Fred Hampton by police in Chicago. On December 4, 1970, Palmer and five others were arrested while attempting to firebomb their first target: the First National City Bank at Madison Avenue and 91st Street. New York Police had been made aware of the planned attacks ahead of time by police informant Steve Wiener, and the group had been monitored by police for months leading up to the attempted attack.
On December 9, the conspirators were charged with attempted arson in the first degree, attempted criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit arson, conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, and possession of dangerous instruments. The other five conspirators had their bail set at $50,000 each, but Palmer was also separately charged with being a recruiter for the Weather Underground, and his bail was set at $250,000.[4][5]
Later life[edit]
Robin Palmer lived with cancer for 20 years before he died on August 20, 2010 at the age of 80.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Hoffmannstahl, Carola Von (October 18, 2010). "Robin Palmer: Weatherman Yippie Right Wing Rebel Forever". opednews.com. OpEdNews. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Alumni Deaths". Cornell Alumni Magazine. Vol. 113, no. 6. May 2011. p. 95. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Viola Jr., David C. (2017). Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism in New York City During the Long Sixties (PhD thesis). CUNY. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Montgomery, Paul L. (December 5, 1970). "6 Identified as Weathermen Seized in an Attempt to Bomb Bank Here". New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ Eastland JO, et al. (January 30, 1975). The Weather Underground : Report of the Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws of the Committee of the Judiciary (PDF) (Report). United States Senate, Ninety-Fourth Congress, First Session. p. 82. Retrieved March 23, 2024.