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EPIC- Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens – Hosting Fourth Annual Wrongful Conviction Rally Wednesday, October 2nd at Noon, Cuyahoga County Justice Center, West 3rd and Lakeside Ave. in Downtown Cleveland
- Featured speakers include Exonerees, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael P. Donnelly and Attorney Kim Corral
- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley was invited to speak but declined
- Event livestream will be available at https://www.youtube.com/@gbentmedia [2] and archived thereafter.
- Event Co-Sponsors include Justice For Dawn Pasela (JusticeForDawn.com) as well as FreeTonyViola.com
Cleveland, Ohio – September 3, 2024 – FreeTonyViola announced today that it is co-sponsoring the EPIC’s (Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens) fourth annual rally on October 2nd at Noon to bring much needed attention of the horrific injustices wrongful convictions create to the community. According to The National Registry of Exonerations, there have been at least 3,585 judicially recognized exonerations since 1989, constituting more than 31,900 years lost. Locally, Cuyahoga County is regarded as the epicenter of wrongful convictions in the State of Ohio, with far more exonerees than any other community, including many citizens who spent decades incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.
Wrongful Conviction Day is a national event across the nation designed to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful conviction and to recognize the tremendous personal, social, and emotional costs of wrongful conviction for innocent people and their families. The event began as an effort of the Innocence Network, an affiliation of organizations dedicated to providing pro-bono legal and investigative services to individuals seeking to prove innocence of crimes for which they have been convicted, working to redress the causes of wrongful convictions, and supporting the exonerated after they are freed.
In advance of his appearance at the event, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael P. Donnelly stated that “A wrongful conviction is the worst form of injustice that can occur in our system and we should do everything we can to prevent it on the front end from happening, but also take steps to reform the post-conviction process to remedy wrongful conviction as soon as possible.”
Attorney Kim Corral, whose law firm works extensively on post-conviction litigation, stated the following: “As always, I am honored to participate in Cuyahoga County's Wrongful Conviction Day. It is crucially important to spread awareness about the all too common-place occurrence of wrongful convictions. It is also an important opportunity to remind those harmed by wrongful conviction that they are not forgotten, that we have not tired in their fight for justice and that the community is calling for change.”
Ed and Karen Pasela, the parents of the late Dawn Pasela, said, “We are so happy to support Wrongful Conviction Day, because our daughter Dawn fought so hard for justice and did everything she could to prevent wrongful convictions, details at www.JusticeForDawn.com [3].” Tony Viola, who was exonerated at a second trial after an initial conviction, said, “Wrongful convictions aren’t mistakes but intentional wrongdoing by prosecutors, who start with a conclusion and target people for prosecution, then hide or destroy evidence that doesn’t comport with their theory of the case. Ending rampant injustices and intentional wrongdoing by prosecutors should be a priority for all officials in our government.”
Event organizer Jeanna Kenney added, “If you have a loved one incarcerated who is fighting a wrongful conviction, we encourage you to join us, bring your family, and join us in solidarity to be boots on ground to #BringTheCrowdDowntown! We are also asking for help sharing the event on your social media pages and by inviting family and friends in person or by sharing our Facebook invitation: https://facebook.com/events/s/wrongful-conviction-dayawaren/510294401530399/ [4] Also, we would welcome additional speakers and sponsors, so please reach out for further details.”
ABOUT EPIC- Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens: EPIC is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization advocating for fair laws and treatment within our penal system. We are currently fighting hard on Parole Reform and the treatment of incarcerated citizens throughout Ohio. We are a team built with amazing individuals who are passionate and dedicated to bring those deserving of a second chance HOME!
ABOUT ATTORNEY KIMBERLY KENDALL CORRAL: Kimberly Kendall Corral has successfully and aggressively defended a wide range of criminal cases from misdemeanors to capital homicide cases. Kim represents clients at all levels of criminal justice advocacy. This includes investigation, indictment, pre-trial motions practice, trial, direct appeals, post-conviction remedies, jurisdictional appeals, habeas corpus, and wrongful conviction litigation. Kim was invited to the Oval Office to discuss a client’s pardon with the President of the United States and White House Counsel. She was honored as a Rising Star in 2019 by Super Lawyers. Additional information about Attorney Kimberly Corral’s law practice and recent accomplishments can be found on her website, www.kimlawcrimlaw.com.
ABOUT FREETONYVIOLA.COM: FreeTonyViola.com’s mission is to shine a bright spotlight on the ‘win at all costs’ tactics, prosecutorial overreach and misconduct the United States Department of Justice employs when prosecuting American citizens. Tony Viola was investigated by the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of state, local and federal agencies, and prosecuted in parallel federal and state cases. He lost the federal case but was exonerated at a subsequent state trial. The website, originally created to solicit leads for Tony’s investigative team, has evolved into a tool to keep the public informed about critical developments in his case, and to share information that could potentially assist others who have been wrongfully ensnared by our criminal justice system. For additional information, visit http://www.FreeTonyViola.com [5], friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tony.viola.9212 [6], or follow us on Twitter @TonyViola.
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