John,

As this year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the power of resilience and the incredible impact that can be achieved when we unite for justice. This is the time of year when people usually take stock of where they’ve been and plan where they’d like to be. But when you’re wrongfully convicted and sitting in a cage, thinking about the future seems like an impossible dream.

I'm Raymond Santana, a member of the Exonerated Five, and I've lived through the life-altering consequences of a wrongful conviction. In 1989, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise, and I had our lives turned upside down due to a crime someone else committed. 

Back then, we were just kids and didn’t know how to advocate for ourselves in the face of bias, police and prosecutorial misconduct, and a legal system mired in corruption. 

Hope for a future was the last thing on our minds. But thanks to the work of folks like those at the Innocence Project, I’m not just planning my future; I’m working to carve a path to freedom for others who have been wrongfully convicted.

Today marks 21 years since all five of us were finally exonerated. In honor of this anniversary, can you give the gift of hope by making a donation now, before the Innocence Project’s end-of-year deadline?

The Innocence Project holds a special place in my heart, as they work tirelessly to free the innocent and transform our legal system. Let’s face it — it takes time, energy, and, yes, money to do the necessary and life-saving work that they do every day. 

Your contribution will accelerate their efforts to exonerate the innocent, advocate for criminal legal reform, and provide support to those rebuilding their lives after exoneration. Together, we can make a profound impact on lives like mine and my Exonerated Five brothers, unjustly incarcerated and yearning for justice.

The Innocence Project is currently gearing up for 2024, and what they raise right now will directly impact what they can accomplish in the new year. Will you help them kick off on the strongest note possible by making a donation?

This year has seen remarkable progress, but the journey is far from over. Your support will enable the Innocence Project to continue pursuing justice for those who have been denied it for far too long. Let's end the year with hope, resilience, and justice. Your generosity can change lives.

Wishing you happy holidays,

Raymond Santana
Exonerated in 2002