May 17, 2007Speaking Strong Results in Criminal Exoneration
Heroes can be found in all places. This week I heard an inspiring interview from a heroic ex-convict who was exonerated of rape and murder charges through DNA testing – after serving 25 years in prison.
Jerry Miller is walking free today thanks in part to his own persistence. While behind bars, he wrote scores of letters to the Innocence Project - an advocacy group in New York that uses DNA evidence to help exonerate innocent prisoners. Miller’s letters got their attention, and they got the DNA test that changed his life.
Jerry Miller described his sanity strategies in a powerful interview for Bill Moyer’s Journal. He says, “I realized that, (being angry) was a waste of time. It was gonna be a tough time, I got myself together and tried to figure out what I had to do. I had to maintain myself. I had to grow. I had to mature, you know, so I read. And I kept reading.”
And writing. He gave up proclaiming his innocence to those who couldn’t hear it or wouldn’t hear it or couldn’t do anything about it. But he persisted in seeking support where it could do some good.
Listening to Jerry Miller, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05042007/profile2.html I felt I was listening to greatness. It’s an inspiration to know someone can endure such hardship with so much grace and balance. He also inspires me to “maintain myself,” “grow” and “mature” so I don’t hold myself back.
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