Five years after his exoneration, Malcolm still has not received any compensation from the state of Louisiana for the nearly four decades he was wrongfully incarcerated. At a time in his life when he would be retired if he had not been wrongly convicted, he is working two jobs to make ends meet and support his family. If you’d like to support Malcolm on this Father’s Day, you can make a donation to his personal fundraiser here.
John,
In 1980, I had just turned 20 and was raising my 2-year-old son, Mac, while working in construction around New Orleans, when I was wrongly arrested for raping a white woman I had never met.
My trial lasted just one day and my ineffective lawyer — who has since been disbarred — failed in his most basic duties to defend me. I was convicted based entirely on a deeply flawed, unreliable identification.
I ended up spending nearly 38 years in prison for a crime I didn’t commit — almost four decades away from my son. I missed nearly every important moment in his life, including the birth of my grandson.
It’s because of the work of the Innocence Project that I’m now free and able to spend as much time as I can with my family, and I’m truly so grateful. On Father’s Day I’m thinking of the countless innocent fathers in prison who desperately want to be reunited with their kids. It’s so critical to continue supporting the Innocence Project’s work.
They have a big fundraising deadline coming up at the end of this month. Will you make a donation in honor of Father’s Day so that the Innocence Project can continue fighting to free innocent fathers like me? All donations up to $75,000 will be matched, so now is the best time to give.
Malcolm Alexander, center, with his son and grandson — also named Malcolm — on the day he was exonerated, Jan. 30, 2018. (Image: Innocence Project)
I had nearly four decades stolen from me and was robbed of building the beautiful life I had dreamed of. But despite it all, I remained dedicated to raising my son and being there for my family.
Through monthly visits, weekly phone calls, and regular letters, I shared some advice and did my best to instill fundamental fatherhood and leadership qualities in Mac that would eventually help him raise his own son — my grandson — Malcolm III. We also recently welcomed Malcolm IV, my great grandson, to the family.
Malcolm with his son, grandson, and new great grandson. (Image: Malcolm Alexander)
Since being released and exonerated, I married the love of my life and my son’s mother, Brenda, and I get to spend as much time as I want with Mac and Malcolm III. I love every minute I spend with them. Every single minute. I talk to them every day on the phone. During the week, I can’t wait for the weekend to come around because that’s when we are actually able to meet up and hang out together.
Despite everything that’s happened to me, I still believe that there is more good in the world than there is bad. The Innocence Project, my family, and all of the people who have been supportive of me show me that every day.
So please, in honor of Father’s Day, make a matched donation to the Innocence Project and help them free more innocent fathers and reunite families for decades to come.
Thank you for your support, and happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers and father figures out there!
Malcolm Alexander
Exonerated in 2018
Innocence Project |
