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John Thompson. Spent 14 yrs on death row. Nearly killed. Exonerated. Started org to help exonerees. Won $14 million lawsuit. Going to donate to his org. New Orleans DA appealed. Supreme Court reversed award. He died 2 years ago. #WrongfulConvictionDay nytimes.com/2017/10/04/obi…
"John Thompson got to live 14 yrs as a free man-the same number he spent on Louisiana’s death row, condemned for a 1984 murder he didn’t commit.” Seven times Louisiana set a date for his execution. Despite prosecutor knowing *before his trial even began that he was innocent.
After release he focused on holding the prosecutors who tried for so long to kill him accountable, while helping other exonerees. Despite winning a $14 million suit-$1 million for each yr spent about to die-Clarence Thomas denied him a dime bc he found no "pattern of misconduct"
Ginsburg: BS! 5 DAs hid evidence/knew it, yet declined “despite multiple opportunities, spanning nearly 2 decades, to set record straight.” Insult to injury: Trump nominated man who represented NOLA DAs office against Thompson to be a federal appeals judge in Louisiana!
But Thompson didn't let anger keep him from helping other former people who like him had grown up poor & black, injured by “justice” system. Started Resurrection After Exoneration, a residential/educational program for ppl leaving prison w/o money, family or friends to help them.
W/ small donations, he bought & fixed a run-down building to provide stable, supportive environment. Would've used that $14 million for more. When beds were full, he made room on floor at his house. Offered computer classes to p who’d never seen a cellphone; answered calls at 2am
John Thompson died in 2017 at 55 of a heart attack. I had the honor of meeting him several times. Felt his anger, but always inspired but his hope. RIP. 
