October 2 was International Wrongful Conviction Day and our commemoration activities kept us very busy! The Exoneree Network was out in full force on the State House steps pushing to support exonerees upon release; in the afternoon, we were in Springfield announcing the filing of our motion to overturn the wrongful conviction of Edward Wright; and over the weekend, we hosted our Wrongful Conviction Day March & Rally. We're so grateful to this community for all of your support. The fight continues!
Wrongful Conviction Day Rally & March
Thank you for joining us!
Photos by Ellen Rogers Photography
In honor of the 10th Annual #WrongfulConvictionDay, on Saturday, September 30, 2023, we raised our voices together against injustice and marched in honor of people who could not be with us and are still incarcerated.
This year's theme is Building a Legacy: Centering Dignity & Resilience. We spotlighted people directly impacted by wrongful convictions, recognized dignity and resilience as tools of protest and resistance in the face of injustice, and reflected on how we can continue to grow the movement to provide more freedom now and for future generations.
We kicked off the event with drum beats by Grooversity, and heard from speakers including Exoneree Sean Ellis, Director of the Exoneree Network; Robert Foxworth, exoneree and NEIP Trustee, and many more.
A Look Back
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Sunday, October 2, 2022
In the spirit of the day's theme, "Collective Action," exonerees, loved ones, advocates, and community members all joined together to raise their voices against injustice and honor those still fighting for their freedom.
We kicked off the rally at The Dewitt Center with drum beats by Grooversity, followed by passionate speeches from Exoneree Sean Ellis, Director of the Exoneree Network, Lisa Kavanaugh, NEIP Trustee & Director of the CPCS Innocence Program, and State Senator-Elect and Rep. Liz Miranda.
To draw attention to the significant role police misconduct has played in wrongful convictions here in Suffolk County, we then marched to the Boston Police Department Headquarters, where Sean led the crowd in chanting "Bring Them Home."
Back at The Dewitt Center, Jabir Pope and Albert Brown, who together spent 76 years wrongfully incarcerated, treated everyone to a soul-stirring performance of their song "I Cry Freedom," which they wrote while at MCI-Norfolk.
Check out the media coverage:
Rally raises awareness for people wrongly convicted of crimes in Suffolk County
Massachusetts exoneree Sean Ellis speaks to Wrongful Conviction Day rally
2021 Wrongful Conviction Day Rally & March
Saturday, October 2, 2021
View the video and photos from our 2021 event!
Thank you to everyone who raised their voice with us at the Wrongful Conviction Day Rally & March on Saturday, October 2 on Boston Common as we confronted the myths and challenges we face in the criminal legal system, supported ending life without parole sentencing, and lifted up ongoing efforts to overturn convictions.
Guests and guest speakers included exoneree Robert Foxworth, State Representative Liz Miranda, a spoken word performance by Michelle Garcia Fresco, drum beats by Grooversity, and much more. Stops along the march included the State House and the John Adams Courthouse.
“The Fight Continues…” was the theme of this year’s International Wrongful Conviction Day. During our Rally & March, we invited family members, loved ones, lawyers, and anyone else engaged in the fight for freedom with people who are incarcerated, to lift up an image of that person and say their names. This demonstration recommits our community to continue this fight together.
It takes a movement to overturn even one wrongful conviction, not to mention changing the system. Join us in our fight, not just for Wrongful Conviction Day, but every day.
Help Amplify Exoneree Voices
Watch and Share this Video
Please watch and share this International Wrongful Conviction Day video created by New England exonerees to help explore and understand the human toll of wrongful convictions.
Looking for more ways to get involved?
Here are 5 ways you can help raise awareness
Listen, Read, Watch real stories of wrongful convictions and their devastating impact using our Resource Guide. This list includes the powerful podcast, “Mass Exoneration.” Then, talk to your friends and family about what you’ve learned.
Follow NEIP on social media and “like” and “share” our stories and content using hashtag #WrongfulConvictionDay:
Facebook: @NewEnglandInnocence
Sign-up to receive NEIP e-mail to stay up-to-date on innocence work news, exoneree stories, events, and more.
Host a Facebook fundraiser for NEIP in honor of Wrongful Conviction Day: $100, $500, $1,000, it’s up to you. You can also make a donation to help bring innocent people home to their loved ones, as we rely on public support to continue our important work.
Watch and share NEIP’s 2021 virtual event, Voices of the Innocent: Amplify! which took place on October 28, 2021.
A Look Back at 2020
Listen to our Panel Discussion
Watch and listen to our livestream panel discussion, “The Black Lives Matter Movement and Wrongful Convictions,” which took place on October 2, 2020.
Wrongfully convicted people have a unique perspective on the failures of the criminal legal system, from systemic racism to police brutality to the violence of the state through wrongful prosecutions and mass incarceration. In this panel, three people wrongfully convicted in different parts of the country (Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington) discuss their experiences and how they intersect with the truths of the Black Lives Matter movement.
A Look Back at 2019
School Speaking Program for Wrongful Conviction Day 2019
On Wrongful Conviction Day 2019, the New England Innocence Project, CPCS Innocence Program, and Boston College Innocence Program partnered with exonerees from New England to speak to students about wrongful convictions at 12 local schools throughout the Boston area.
We shared photos and video from the day on our social media pages. The day was a huge success — reaching more than 1,000 students in one day!