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12/12: Thursday Action to Demand Pardon for Death Row Inmate Aaron Patterson

Exonerated death row inmate Rolondo Cruz will speak out in support of a full pardon based on innocence for death row inmate Aaron Patterson at a press conference on Thursday, December 12 at the lobby of the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph in Chicago. Cruz will also publicize the kick-off of a hunger strike by Patterson, who is vowing to fast for freedom until the Governor makes a decision on his case.
Exonerated Death Row Inmate Rolondo Cruz to Call for Pardon of Death Row Inmate and Police Torture Victim Aaron Patterson

Press Conference/Rally
2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12
James R. Thompson Center Lobby, 100 W. Randolph, Chicago

Patterson to Launch indefinite hunger strike in ‘Fast for Freedom'.

CHICAGO: Rolondo Cruz, who within days is expecting to receive a pardon from Illinois Governor George Ryan, will speak out in support of a full pardon based on innocence for death row inmate Aaron Patterson at a press conference at 2PM on Thursday, December 12 at the lobby of the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph in Chicago. Cruz will also publicize the kick-off of a hunger strike by Patterson, who is vowing to fast for freedom until the Governor makes a decision on his case.

Cruz spent many years on death row with Patterson and is convinced of Patterson’s innocence. Patterson has charged for years that he was brutally tortured by former police commander Jon Burge and his cronies, and that police fabricated his 'confession' to a crime he did not commit. Burge was later fired by the Chicago police department for torturing suspects.

At the press conference, Cruz will be joined by private investigator Paul Siliono, who helped exonerate Anthony Porter; Illinois State Representative Constance A. Howard, the Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus; and Patterson's mother Joanne. Rep. Howard has been spearheading an effort by a delegation of elected officials and religious leaders to obtain a pardon for Patterson.

Members of Howard's Patterson delegation include U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsy; Illinois Representatives Cynthia Soto, Mark Beaubien, Susan Garrett, Willie Delgado, Lou Jones, Larry Mckeon, Sara Feigenholtz, and Barbara Flynn Currie; Republican Committeeman Tony Castrogeovanni; Rev. Paul Jakes of the Chicago Christian Council on Urban Affairs; Rabbi Robert Marx of Congregation Hakafa; Pat Hill, former president of the African American Police League; former Illinois Appellate Judge Eugene Pincham; Dr. Calvin Morris, executive director of the Community Renewal Society; Malcolm Rich, executive director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers; Emma Lozano, president of Centro Sin Fronteras; Mary Johnson, mother of police torture victim Michael Johnson; Dorothy LaVell, owner of the Chicago Crusader; and exonerated former death row inmate Delbert Tibbs.

HOW DOES AN INNOCENT MAN END UP ON DEATH ROW? In a time when the public is increasingly asking this question, the case of Aaron Patterson provides text-book examples of the myriad of ways a case can go terribly – and potentially – fatally wrong.
 
 

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