A Leaner Rev. Sharpton Released From Prison

N E W  Y O R K, Aug. 17 -- Three months later and 31 pounds lighter than when he was locked up, the Rev. Al Sharpton today walked out of a federal prison in New York.

The outspoken civil rights advocate was arrested with three others in May for staging a protest on the inhabited Puerto Rican island of Vieques, where the U.S. military conducts bombing exercises.

Several weeks after the arrests, President Bush announced the bombing would end by 2003.

While behind bars, Sharpton went on a 43-day hunger strike to protest the bombing. The fast helped the famously portly activist lose 31 pounds.

Sharpton also has sprouted a full salt-and-pepper beard. But while he's walking out of prison a bit lighter, he plans to continue fighting social injustice and position himself for a possible 2004 presidential campaign.

And jail time has not diluted his resolve to protest the Vieques bombing. His lawyer Sanford Rubenstein said the reverend is determined to carry on the fight to end the bombing immediately.

"Reverend Al Sharpton is going to come out of prison stronger than he was when he went in, and more dedicated to the cause to stop the bombing in Vieques," Rubenstein said.

Sharpton supporters awaited his release with an all-night vigil outside the jail. Upon leaving the federal prison in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sharpton planned to visit a nearby accident scene where three members of a family were killed — allegedly by a police officer driving under the influence of alcohol.

In the coming days, Sharpton's schedule includes a homecoming party inHarlem, as well as rallies to address the New York City mayoral race andto support the United Nations conference on racism in South Africa.

New York state Assemblyman Jose Rivera, one of the men arrested with Sharpton and who spent 40 days in jail, said he can't wait for his friend to pick up where they left off.

"Rev. Al Sharpton will be leading thousands of people from this city, this nation, as we march to the U.N.," Rivera said. "To demonstrate in front of the U.N. That they need to be heard on this issue."