Maurice Carter Day: A time to consider racism. Right here!
Just what the heck is “Maurice Carter Day?” Well, I and the team at HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS feel that, on July 24, we should honor the memory of Maurice…the guy who thought up the idea for HFP's existence. Maurice, an indigent Black man from Gary, Indiana, was wrongly arrested, convicted and sentenced to life behind bars in Michigan’s Berrien County back in the 70s. I met him in the 90s, and for the next decade we fought for his exoneration and freedom. We never got the exoneration, but he was released on July 24, 2004 for medical reasons after serving 29 years. He died three months later. But, we must do more than honor the memory of this kind and gentle man. I think it’s time to focus on racism, especially in our justice (or non-justice) system. I know, I know…racism is rife in the deep south, right? We live in the north. Let me share a few figures with you…stats that come, not from the deep south, but from right here in Pure Michigan. - Mu...