Robert Hillary King | |
|---|---|
 Robert Hillary King at the Left Forum New York City, 2009 | |
| Born | Robert Hillary King May 30, 1942 Louisiana, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Speedy King |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Angola Three |
| Children | 1 |
Robert Hillary King (born May 30, 1942[1]), also known as Robert King Wilkerson, is an American known as one of the Angola Three, former prisoners who were held at Louisiana State Penitentiary in solitary confinement for decades after being convicted in 1973 of prison murders.
Initially held at Angola after being convicted of armed robbery, King served a total of 32 years there, 29 of them in solitary. His conviction was overturned on appeal in 2001, and a new trial was ordered. The state indicted him again and he accepted a plea deal for lower charges, in exchange for time served, rather than go through another trial. He was released in 2001.
King has consistently maintained his innocence in the prison murder. He was among the co-founders of the Angola chapter of the Black Panther Party. With Albert Woodfox and the late Herman Wallace, also former Black Panthers, he is known as one of the Angola 3, men who were held for decades in solitary confinement at Angola. With the death of Woodfox in August 2022, King is also now the last surviving member of the Angola 3 as well.[2][3]
- ^ Sabir, Wanda, 'Review - From the Bottom of the Heap: The Autobiography of Black Panther Robert Hillary King, San Francisco Bay View, November 18, 2008.
- ^ Reckdahl, Katy (August 4, 2022). "Albert Woodfox, Angola 3 member, 'Solitary' author, dies at 75". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Traub, Alex (2022-08-05). "Albert Woodfox, Survivor of 42 Years in Solitary Confinement, Dies at 75". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-07.