Earlier this year Funny.co.uk reported on the growing support for a petition being raised in New York, demanding that controversial Stand-up comic Lenny Bruce be pardoned for 'crimes' dating back over 40 years.  The late Lenny Bruce caused outrage throughout parts of the American establishment, when his performances covered taboo topics such as Religion, Politics and Race.  In 1964 an off duty policeman heard him utter 100 'obscene' words during a performance in Greenwich village, New York.  He was arrested and later sentenced to 4 months in prison for "giving an obscene performance".

A growing number of people believed that such a conviction was wrong, and went against the principals of Freedom of Speech that are so important to the American constitution.  Now the authorities have bowed to public opinion and the New York state governor has given Bruce an official pardon. 

In pardoning Bruce, who died in 1966, Governor Pataki said: "Freedom of speech is one of the greatest American liberties and I hope this pardon serves as a reminder of the precious freedoms we are fighting to preserve."

Lenny Bruce's pardon is thought to be the first Posthumous Pardon granted by the state of New York.