Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised that we both were so taken with the lyrics of the same song -- I remember first hearing it in a political context at an NACDL board meeting (National Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers) when former NACDL President Jerry Lefcourt, a former lawyer for Abbie Hoffman during and after the Chicago 7 trial) was criticizing some government policy and ended his talk with that line, and then sat down. The line never stopped resonating with me. In fact, it has never been more appropriate than during the siege of Donald Trump.

Back to Kathy Boudin. In December, 2002, I wrote a post called "Children of the Left". Chesa had just been named a Rhodes Scholar at Yale. It was a long and emotional post, as much about my son as Chesa. It ended with:

I have to believe that Chesa Boudin's parents are as proud of him as I am of my child--in the end, there is no greater contribution any of us can make as parents than to send our children out into the world to find their own way, and watch as they choose a career of public service, or one dedicated to improving the plight of those less fortunate, be it in medicine, law, politics, education, or any other field. Even law enforcement. I hope I get to meet Chesa one day.

In August, 2003, I advocated for her parole on TalkLeft, as she was coming up for hearing. It was granted. The next day, I followed it up with "Chesa Boudin, Son of Kathy Boudin". I linked to an article" Chesa wrote in 2001, I am the Son of Prisoner 83A6158, about what it was like visiting his parents in prison for 17 years. I called him "a remarkable young man."

There are several other posts here over the years about the Boudins and children of the Incarcerated. On Fathers' Day in 2020, I wrote about Chesa again:

Where is Chesa today? First, he became a state public defender. In November, he ran for District Attorney of San Francisco, and won. He was sworn in in January.

Boudin, a reformer who ran on a platform of ending mass incarceration, eliminating cash bail, and tackling racial disparities in law enforcement, reiterated his commitment to overhauling the office before a capacity crowd at the Herbst Theatre.

“Until we distribute opportunities with more equity, until the institutionalization of punishment and retaliation is replaced with the institutionalization of restoration and redemption—until then, we will continue to fail those harmed by crime,” he said. He called on attendees to reject the notion that “to be free we must cage others,” and that “jails and prisons should be the primary response to all our social problems.”

Fast forward to today, and Chesa Boudin is facing a recall election in San Francisco over his progressive policies. The Editorial Board of the San Francisco Chronicle urges its readers to vote against the recall. The biggest funder of the recall effort appears to be Republican billionaire William Obendorf.

I have never believed that individual prosecutors can make a big enough change in the system just by exercising discretion in choosing who to prosecute and who to imprison. To really make a difference, you need systemic change. That comes from changing laws, and most of all, changing the views of the voting public. People-powered politics.

I hope Chesa survives the recall effort, but if he doesn't, I know he can have an illustrious and prominent career as a defender of constitutional rights -- a career I still find rewarding even after more than 40 years.

To Chesa: My sincere condolences on the loss of your mother. May she rest in peace. I hope and believe you will continue to fight against the injustice and oppressive policies that unfairly target those who have the least among us, and especially their children.