Fixing a Broken System
“In a society that claims to promote justice, we must ask ourselves: how many more lives need to be affected before we demand a system that truly protects everyone, no matter their race or ethnicity?”
The first time I learned about the Central Park Five, I was shocked and filled with rage. Five young men – Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron Mcray, Yusef Salaam, and Korey Wise – were wrongfully convicted of the assault and rape of a jogger in Central Park in 1989. Even though they were innocent, they were coerced into confessions through aggressive police interrogations. Donald Trump even took out an ad in the paper to get them convicted. In the end, they were convicted based on flawed evidence and plain racism.
Imagine being on death row for years, awaiting execution for a crime you did not commit. How could this happen? These young men had their lives stolen from them, and it made me think of how easily a person's fate can change due to mistakes in the justice system. As I dug deeper into their story, I felt a deep sense of empathy for them and their families who suffered because of a system that disappointed them. Those families felt a sense of heartache because of the failures of the judicial system. Wrongful imprisonment leaves severe emotional scars that never completely heal, even after someone is freed (if they are freed). This piece seeks to bring to light the critical need for prison reform. Right now, there are too many mistakes that cause too much trauma to be endured by those who are wrongfully convicted.
Imagine knowing your life could be taken away at any moment, not because of guilt, but because of an error in the justice system. Individuals like Marcellus Willams don’t have to imagine this. Williams was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit. He spent over 20 years on death row, and he maintained his innocence to the very end. Even as his execution date approached, he displayed incredible strength and faith, with his final words thanking Allah for giving him peace and guiding him through his darkest moments. His last words were: “All praise be to Allah in every situation”.
His case began in 1999 when he was accused of the murder of an elderly woman in Missouri. According to The Innocence Project, Williams' conviction was based on unreliable evidence, including a faulty forensic analysis and witness testimonies that were later discredited. He consistently insisted his innocence, that he had no connection to the crime. He battled not only with the fear of execution but also the psychological toll of being labeled as a murderer. The Innocence Project highlights that Williams' case undermines the systematic failures within the justice system that can lead to wrongful convictions. Tragically in 2024, he was executed, reminding us of the bias in the system that is supposed to deliver justice.
Williams' story highlights how he maintained his faith as a source of courage and hope in the face of unspeakable injustice and suffering. His story serves as a reminder of the human spirit's resilience as well as the harshness of a legal system that targets and imprisons those who are powerless. People who get “lucky," unlike Williams, face anxiety, depression, and PTSD long after their release. Their families suffer too, losing precious years with their loved one and often being financially and emotionally drained by the long legal battles. The death penalty can never be undone. I believe that the death penalty is not only morally wrong but also a dangerous tool that is weaponized by a justice system that’s far from perfect.
For those wrongfully convicted, the mental and emotional toll is overwhelming. However, the suffering expands beyond those behind bars. It also spreads to families and communities. People come together organizing protests, holding fundraisers and demanding justice. These protests aren’t just about one person's case. Communities come together to voice a much larger frustration with the justice system and its consistent failures. The heartbreak these families face becomes a symbol of something bigger. The system isn’t working the way it should, and that anger pushed people to call for change. The involvement of communities brings media attention and support from human right groups like activists or BLM. But with all the emotion and passion surrounding these protests, things can get messy. Sometimes, protests lead to confrontations with the police or escalate into dangerous situations. The intensity of fighting for what’s right can cause division, as people struggle to balance the need for justice with the chaos that often follows.
These situations highlight a deeper issue: people are losing trust in the systems that are supposed to protect them. When you witness families torn apart by wrongful convictions, and communities in chaos trying to fight back, it becomes clear that the pain goes far beyond a prison’s walls. This pain is a reflection of the growing distrust in the justice system, leaving many to wonder if the system offers fairness at all.
The turmoil surrounding wrongful convictions shows a growing distrust in the institutions that are supposed to deliver justice. Families and communities become caught in a web of pain, not just fighting for their loved ones but also struggling with the basic question of fairness in a broken system. As the emotional scars run deep, it’s clear that these issues need immediate attention. The death penalty and wrongful convictions expose serious flaws in our justice system, forcing us to face bigger questions, ones about morality and the damage these mistakes cause.
In a society that claims to promote justice, we must ask ourselves: how many more lives need to be affected before we demand a system that truly protects everyone, no matter their race or ethnicity? It is vital that we address these problems to restore faith in the justice system and ensure that every individual is treated with the respect and equality they deserve.