Father's Day

I received the message below from the Innocence Project in time for Father's Day...

My father, Rickie Johnson, was wrongfully convicted when I was just a toddler. Due to circumstances, he and I didn’t meet again until I was in my 20s, but when I learned that he was fighting to overturn his wrongful conviction, I threw all of my energy into the battle to prove his innocence. I wrote to the Innocence Project on his behalf and studied his case transcripts. I couldn’t believe somebody could be convicted in this country on such thin evidence.

With the help of the Innocence Project, DNA testing was conducted in my dad’s case and he was finally freed last year after serving 26 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

I’m blessed to have my father back, and this year we’ll celebrate a joyous Father’s Day. But there are countless people in the country who aren’t as fortunate as I am — the innocent mothers and fathers who remain in prison today while their families are forced to get by without them. If you can help the Innocence Project with a donation today, you’ll help reunite families like mine across the country and reform the system to prevent injustices like this from ever happening again.

My father is my hero and an inspiration to so many people he met over the years. Not only did he survive a quarter-century in prison, he did it with a positive outlook on life. When he would tell me years ago that he was sure he’d be free someday, I would admire his optimism but take it with a grain of my own realism, knowing the odds were against him. Now I know that the truth can overcome the odds any time. Whenever I feel down about anything, I think about my dad’s strength and his triumph.

This Father’s Day, I’ll be celebrating my dad’s freedom and thinking of all of those other families who aren’t so lucky.

La’Keisha Butts

Learn more about the Innocence Project.