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Sing Sing prima Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez has been exonerated from a execution condemnation aft serving a 25-years-to-life condemnation for the decease of a retired constabulary serviceman successful New York.
By Olivia Evans Sep 30, 2024 8:30 PMTags
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Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez has yet been vindicated.
The Sing Sing histrion and formerly wrongfully incarcerated inmate astatine Sing Sing correctional facility—where the movie, besides starring Colman Domingo, was shot—was exonerated of his execution condemnation successful tribunal connected Sept. 30, NBC New York reported.
Velazquez, 48, was joined by household and friends for his exoneration astatine a Manhattan courthouse including chap Sing Sing formed subordinate Clarence Maclin and its manager Greg Kwedar.
Since his wrongful condemnation successful 1998, Velazquez—who did not lucifer the statement of the suspected slayer and had telephone records arsenic an alibi—has maintained his innocence.
“I was kidnapped by this state and enslaved,” Velazquez said extracurricular the courthouse Sept. 30, per Variety. “This is not a celebration. This is an indictment of the system.”
E! News has reached retired to attorneys for Velazquez, but has not yet heard back.
In 2021, Velazquez was granted clemency—or a pardon without afloat exoneration—by then-New York politician Andrew Cuomo aft spending astir 24 years down bars astatine Sing Sing correctional installation successful Ossining, New York.
Since receiving clemency, helium went connected to go a transgression ineligible betterment activist, and is simply a founding subordinate of the Voices from Within, a task that was formed wrong Sing Sing correctional installation and addresses the “epidemic” of transgression and incarceration done radical who person been incarcerated and victims of it, per its website.
Velazquez joined the formed of the Sing Sing movie astir a twelvemonth aft helium was released from down bars, noting that the movie—which is based connected the existent beingness communicative of John “Divine G” Whitfield (Domingo), a antheral imprisoned astatine Sing Sing for a transgression helium did not commit—was “one of the astir important things” he’d ever done successful his life.
Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock
Following Velazquez being cleared of his conviction, the Sing Sing movie producers which see Kwedar, Monique Walton and Clint Bentley, called it a “powerful step” successful the actor’s journey.
“A infinitesimal helium volition nary uncertainty usage for the betterment of others, and to advocator for those inactive down the walls,” the producers’ connection to Variety said. “Because that’s conscionable who helium is.”
Activism isn’t the lone happening Velazquez volition continue—he plans to instrumentality connected much acting roles, too.
“To cognize that you tin marque wealth and inactive person fun, and beryllium surrounded by large people,” helium told the outlet. “I’m doing what I’m passionate about. What I ever said I was going to bash erstwhile I was inside, I’m really doing now.”
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