Imagine if you're just starting your life as a young adult and you were suddenly taken away from your family, charged for a crime you had no connection to, with no evidence, but simply because you fit the profile of being Black. My cousin, #WayneBraddyjr and his lifelong friend, Karl Willis, have been living this nightmare for a very long time and they need your help today.
Due to the unfortunate event that occurred on June 15, 1998, when 13-year-old Maurice Purifie was found dead lying in the middle of Horrace Street in Toledo, Ohio, these two men have been sitting in prison waiting for the justice they deserve but this system has continued to fail them. They were only 18 & 19 when the crime was committed. Shortly after, at ages 20 & 21, authorities would arrest my cousin, Wayne Braddy Jr, and his friend Karl Willis in the wrongful conviction of the murder of Maurice Purifie WITH NO DNA EVIDENCE AND A FALSE WITNESS TESTIMONY! For over 20 years Wayne and Karl have asserted their innocence. You can learn more about their stories in the link in my bio @goodsistershop or link below. There are 6 chapters you can read along with that include video by WTOL11 Lead Investigative Reporter, Brian Dugger. There is another WTOL11 story about Karl Willis who contracted Covid-19 while in prison as well as a recent podcast recorded last week by @the419grind in which they, as well as my Mother-in-law, shed light on their case and offer more details about what you can do to support getting these men out.
The Ohio Innocence Project, and many others, have spent countless hours fighting to get them a new trial. Please follow the link in my profile and take action by emailing the Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates to respectfully demand Wayne and Karl be release or offered a new trial.
Please email all and any Toledo news papers voicing your concern for this case and asking to report on it. You can find details about who to contact and we’ve provided scripts you can use to copy/paste to those emails. Wayne and Karl deserve the chance to one day reunite with their families and live the life they deserve-ASAP! Please show them that they are not forgotten and that their lives do indeed matter. Please share, repost, email, text and spread to everyone you know. Our families deeply appreciates it. 🙏🏽♥️
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#blacklivesmatter #innocentlivesmatter #theohioinnocenceproject #freewayneandkarl
Please take action here: https://freewayneandkarl.com