The Innocence Project:
Connecting With “The Hurricane”
This page is dedicated to the miraculous meeting of Rubin “The Hurricane" Carter, learning his story, and the on going connection with AIDWYC (Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted) Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
By Darlene J. Vermeulen
Our introduction to the “Hurricane Carter” story came very serendipitously!
Evelyn (Byron’s mother) had privately watched the video of “Hurricane
Carter” at home. She cried through all of it, and found the
film depressing, in light of her own son’s current plight: life
in prison without parole.
I have to admit, I’d never heard of “Hurricane Carter” and,
obviously, I was not familiar with his story. All of a sudden,
it was as though something inside of me was nudging me to pursue
the story of “The Hurricane.” I suddenly found myself at the
local public library checking out an arm load of books on the
“Hurricane Carter” story. As I was about to exit the library,
the librarian informed me that I could check out the video tape
too, which was currently available.
Arriving home, I unloaded my books and immediately viewed the newly acquired video to get an “over view” of the story. I felt as though this story had a special message for us (the friends and supporters of Byron Case). But I didn’t know what the message was, until the end of the video, and all of a sudden, there it was in bold print...AIDWYC (Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted). The name of the organization that “Hurricane Carter” had formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to help free the wrongly convicted. I ran to my computer and began searching the web for the address and related information. I was elated to find the new material, and thought it would be relevant to helping Byron’s case. I hurriedly put in a call to call Evelyn, told her my thoughts, and we began to pursue AIDWYC vigorously.
“Divine forces” work in mysterious and marvelous ways sometimes. We discovered that that the Law School at University of Missouri at Kansas City had invited none other than Rubin “Hurricane Carter” into Kansas City for a special fund raising dinner for the launching of the Midwest Innocence Project in October of 2002.
After an amazing day of phone calls, making connections with the appropriate people we received word that Evelyn and I would be able to attend the main fund raising dinner with “Hurricane Carter” as the guest speaker, right here, in our own backyard!
Unbelievable! With the assurance that we would be able to attend the fund raising dinner at the last minute, we were ecstatic. The photographer for the evening took our picture along with Evelyn and Rubin Hurricane Carter together.
I KNEW we had struck “pay dirt”, and the process to “freebyroncase” had begun. We had made all the necessary connections to begin turning the wheels to release an innocent man from a life of imprisonment. The “Hurricane” was like a “lightning rod” of energy, and most of all, hope in a dark place. His own life motos are “Dare to Dream” and “Keep Your Eye on the Prize”! Within a month of that October 2002 fund raising dinner, Evelyn flew to Toronto, Ontario, Canada to attend the International AIDWYC Conference. In Evelyn’s own words, “it was as though the “flood gates” had finally opened”, and being in a room with 350 friends of the truth was a very powerful experience. It was extremely humbling to sit and listen to a panel of the “wrongly convicted” persons, now freed, tell their stories and share their life’s experiences.” As a result of the Toronto Conference, more connections have been made with attorneys, Innocent Project promoters, and those who will be of benefit to Byron’s case in the days ahead.
Step by step, as we follow the led of the “spirit within”, we feel the direction in our steps, and the people we need to meet, appear before us. The course remains steady, as does our conviction of Byron’s innocence.
As “Hurricane” said, we do “Dare to Dream” that Byron’s freedom will soon be a reality! And we will definitely “Keep Our Eyes on the Prize”!
(*) For further information on AIDWYC (Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted), contact: 85 King Street East, Suite 318, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C1G3, or Click Here!
