As a dedicated follower of Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez‘s journey, I can hardly contain my admiration for this remarkable man who has triumphed against all odds. His exoneration after 24 years of wrongful incarceration is not just a victory for him, but a testament to his unwavering spirit and resilience.
Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez has finally been vindicated.
On September 30th, as NBC New York news reported, the former Sing Sing prison inmate who acted in the film (also featuring Colman Domingo) was cleared of a murder charge in court, having been wrongfully imprisoned at Sing Sing correctional facility.
At a Manhattan courthouse, Velazquez, aged 48, was accompanied by his family, friends, and colleagues such as Clarence Maclin from the cast of Sing Sing, along with its director Greg Kwedar, during his acquittal.
Ever since my unjust conviction in 1998, I, Velazquez, have consistently asserted my innocence. This is despite the fact that I bore no resemblance to the suspected perpetrator’s description and possessed phone records that placed me elsewhere at the time of the crime.
Velazquez stated outside the courtroom on September 30, as reported by Variety, ‘I was forcibly taken to this nation and made a slave.’ He emphasized that this event is not a cause for celebration, but rather a condemnation of the existing system.
TopMob News has reached out to attorneys for Velazquez, but has not yet heard back.
In the year 2021, Velazquez received a clemency – essentially a pardon that falls short of complete exoneration – from then-governor Andrew Cuomo, following almost 24 years of imprisonment at the Sing Sing correctional facility in Ossining, New York.
After being granted clemency, he transformed into an advocate for criminal legal reform and is a founding member of Voices from Within, an initiative that originated within Sing Sing correctional facility. This project aims to tackle the ongoing issues of crime and incarceration by involving individuals who have experienced imprisonment and those affected by it, as stated on its official website.
Approximately a year following his release from prison, Velazquez became part of the cast for the film titled “Sing Sing”. He expressed that this movie, inspired by the true story of John “Divine G” Whitfield (Domingo), a man unjustly incarcerated at Sing Sing, was among the most significant experiences he had in his life.
After Velazquez was exonerated of his conviction, the filmmakers behind Sing Sing, including Kwedar, Monique Walton, and Clint Bentley, deemed it a “significant stride” in the actor’s career path.
The producers commented to Variety, “He’ll surely utilize this moment for the benefit of others and to speak up for those yet confined within walls.” This aligns with his character.
Activism isn’t the only thing Velazquez will continue—he plans to take on more acting roles, too.
He expressed to the media outlet that it’s rewarding to earn money while enjoying oneself and being in the company of excellent people. Essentially, he is living his dream because he is pursuing what he’s always been passionate about, which is exactly what he had planned when he was still confined.
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2024-09-30 23:50