Thread by @ElliotSlosar

When @VP speaks tonight, think of Keith Cooper. A black man framed by white police officers in Elkhart, Indiana for a crime he did not commit.

#keithcooper #BlackLivesMatter #wrongfulconviction

In 2014, after being presented with evidence demonstrating how Keith was misidentified, how DNA cleared him from the crime and implicated another person, and hearing testimony from the victims, the Indiana Pardon and Parole Board unanimously voted to issue Keith Cooper

Indiana's first ever pardon based upon actual innocence. After more than a year, that recommendation stood still on @VP's desk.

Media reports and editorials from nearly every conceivable media source in Indiana blasted Pence's inaction and demanded more.

indystar.com/story/opinion/…

The trial prosecutor even submitted a letter to Governor Pence supporting Mr. Cooper's actual innocence pardon.

Yet, during this same period of time, @VP was in the running to become the running mate of @POTUS, so he continued to do nothing.

Meanwhile, a change.org petition took off. In a short period of time, nearly 113,000 people signed a petition urging @VP to pardon Keith Cooper for a crime he did not commit.

change.org/p/indiana-gove…

With pressure mounting, and a unanimous recommendation by the Indiana Pardon and Parole Board on his desk, @VP told Keith Cooper to head back to Court.

He punted on Keith's actual innocence pardon sitting on his desk.

#pencepunts

indystar.com/story/news/pol…

washingtonpost.com/news/post-nati…

We continued the fight to clear Keith's name.

Within 30 days of @VP leaving office, @GovHolcomb granted Keith Cooper a pardon based on his actual innocence. He showed tremendous courage in doing so.

digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/articl…

indystar.com/story/news/201…

So when @VP speaks tonight, think of Keith Cooper and remember his longstanding inaction for people of color.

#BlackLivesMatter #keithcooper #innocence #wrongfulconviction

For more information about Keith's case, read this incredible piece by @jcsheckler @kenarmstrong
@propublica and the @SBTribune

features.propublica.org/south-bend/wro…