Wrongful Conviction Day is on October 2! In acknowledgment, we will host virtual and socially distant events to highlight wrongful conviction reform issues and provide calls to action that ask you to fight for justice and accountability.
Follow the hashtag #WrongfulConvictionDayMT for more information and updates. We hope to see you on October 2!
Wrongful Conviction Day Virtual and Socially Distant Events
Virtual Letter Writing Party
When: October 2 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Join us on Zoom! Click on the link below to enter the meeting:
https://umontana.zoom.us/j/99321733014
MTIP is hosting a virtual Wrongful Conviction Day Letter Writing Party on October 2 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. We will be joined by MTIP Executive Director, Amy Sings In The Timber, for a guided discussion about the commutation of MTIP client Katie Garding. We will provide a toolkit with email, letter, and social media post templates for you to personalize, or you can choose to create your own criminal justice masterpiece from scratch!
Socially Distant Walk Out for Justice with Montana Innocence Project and Welcome Back
When: October 2 at 5:30
Where: From the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana to the Missoula County Courthouse
MTIP is collaborating with Welcome Back to execute a socially distant Walk Out for Justice on Wrongful Conviction Day. Wear all of your favorite social justice gear (Don’t forget your mask!), and bring a protest sign about wrongful convictions or criminal justice reform. Meet us at the south entrance to the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana at 5:30 p.m. on October 2, and walk with us in solidarity to the Missoula County Courthouse.
If you don’t already have a protest outfit in mind, enter our online giveaway for MTIP swag: go to our Instagram (@BigSkyInnocence), find the post about this event, and comment your best protest sign and/or protest chant idea. We will pick the winners on September 28!
Virtual Fireside Chat with Barry Beach
When: October 2 at 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Join us on Zoom! Click on the link below to enter the meeting:
https://umontana.zoom.us/j/93798338504
Join MTIP for a virtual fireside chat on Wrongful Conviction Day. We will discuss coerced confessions and the Central Park five case. Our meeting will include a Q&A with special guest Barry Beach who will share his own experience with a coerced confession.
You do not have to prepare for this event; we promise there won’t be a pop quiz! But if you have time to research the case of the Central Park Five before attending, here are some ways to learn about the story:
- Read “The Central Park Five: The Untold Story Behind One of New York City’s Most Infamous Crimes” by Sarah Burns.
- Watch “When They See Us” on Netflix.
- Listen to the “Not Guilty” podcast series on the case.
Wrongful Conviction Day Calls to Action
1. Click here to pledge to demand police accountability.
Demanding police accountability is at the forefront of innocence work. Wrongful convictions start with the development of a suspect, and we know that racism and other biases often infiltrate this process, resulting in the pursuit of the wrong person. In honor of your commitment to fight for police accountability, we ask you to go to this link to add your name and pledge to fight for police accountability and wrongful conviction reform.
2. Click here the link to take the Wrongful Conviction Day quiz:
Innocent people should not have to spend one day in prison, yet innocent people are wrongfully convicted and incarcerated all over the world every day. While some people are able to fight for their innocence and get exonerated, others are subject to cruel and unusual punishment or even sentenced to death. Widespread awareness is key to preventing wrongful convictions. Go to this link to test your understanding of the issue and see how you can learn more.
