"Injustice is like a stray bullet. It doesn't care where it lands."
These are the words of Johnnie Lee Savory who, paroled in 2006, continues to fight to prove his innocence in the case of a the double-homicide charged to him when he was 14. He spoke this week at the McCormick Tribune Center in Chicago along with Steve Drizen, the attorney at the Northwestern University's Center on Wrongful Convictions who has worked his case.
Johnnie is a remarkable man. As a prisoner, he reached beyond his incarceration to organize campaigns to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Though imprisoned at a tender age, he rejected prison culture, and since his parole, he helped inmates transition out of prison. Of the thirty years he spend in prison, Johnnie says, "I was clinging to the promise that the truth would win out."
He's still clinging to that promise. Johnnie and his team continue to press the state of Illinois, pointing out that DNA evidence (which the state has in its possession) would show his innocence. Still, the state refuses to test the material. I'd be eager to hear from anyone who could explain why it is not in the interest of the state to seek the truth in this case. I search my mind, and can't think of a single reason. Or at least not single good reason.
The bad reason is that Illinois' criminal justice establishment doesn't want to be caught on the wrong side of the truth: that they took thirty years away from a good man.
You can help by contacting Illinois' Governor Pat Quinn. Just follow this link: http://www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm. Fill in the contact form and tell the Governor to do the right thing.
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