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Anthony Ray Hinton to Speak at Danford Thomas Memorial Lecture, April 7


Submitted on March 30, 2022

The public is invited to Georgetown College to hear the remarkable story of Anthony Ray Hinton, who for 27 years was in prison and at risk of being executed—for a crime he did not do. Arrested simply because he was black, the prosecutors chose to charge and convict him for several murders. Hinton, this year’s guest speaker for the Danford Thomas Memorial lecture series, will describe his experience of finding life and freedom on death row and discuss the work he does through the Equal Justice Initiative on Thursday, April 7, at 6PM in the John Hill Chapel at Georgetown College. The event and parking is free.  

Throughout his imprisonment, Hinton steadfastly proclaimed his innocence of the murders. After more than two and a half decades of incarceration, he was released from death row in Alabama in 2015.  

Hinton is one of 152 former prisoners who have been removed from death row by the Equal Justice Initiative which provides legal help to incarcerated people. In the US, about one out of ten people on death row are innocent. Hinton notes that is a shocking error rate when the consequence is death. The impact of policies based in racism have profound effects on the world and on history.

The Danford Thomas Memorial lectureship was established in 1920 by the family of Thomas to bring speakers of public interest to the College. Notable lecturers from the past include Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Helen Keller, Arthur Hailey, Sam Donaldson, and Tony Campolo, among many other distinguished individuals.

Danford_Thomas_Anthony_Ray_Hinton_poster_nocrop.pdfDuring the Danford Thomas Memorial Lecture, Hinton will tell his engaging story of survival, friendship, and moral tenacity as recorded in the best-selling book, The Sun Does Shine. Copies of the book will be available at the lecture.

 


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