John —

In 1991, Gerry Thomas was wrongfully convicted of the assault and attempted murder of a Detroit woman.

He spent nearly 30 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, and while he’s grateful to be free and exonerated now, there were definitely times where he struggled to remain positive and hopeful. During those moments, he turned to what he called his “strength box” — a cassette tape player.

He would listen to recordings of Aretha Franklin, gospel singers Shirley Caesar and Mahalia Jackson, and the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Gerry said that recordings of Dr. King’s speeches, in particular, gave him the inspiration and power to move forward, and that he still finds so much strength and truth in his words.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, please take a moment to read more about Gerry’s connection to Dr. King’s powerful words and then share the story with your friends and family online.

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With deep gratitude,

— The Innocence Project Team

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The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the organization is now an independent nonprofit. Our work is guided by science and grounded in antiracism.

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