SLA's forgotten victims

Contra Costa Times/January 28, 2002
By Guy Ashley

Oakland -- As headlines and talk shows rekindle the world's fascination with the Symbionese Liberation Army, Robert Blackburn winces at signs that the most tragic elements of the SLA story will again be missed.

Blackburn, 67, has more than a passing interest in the story. Twenty-eight years ago, while serving as Oakland's deputy schools chief, Blackburn was shot by an SLA gunman in a mind-boggling attack outside a school board meeting.

Two blasts from a sawed-off shotgun left him with more than 20 wounds, and with no shortage of questions about why he survived.