Innocence Project Honored With Two Webby Anthem Awards, Dedicates Action Speech to Melissa Lucio on Texas Death Row

(New York, NY — March 1, 2022) The Innocence Project was honored yesterday with two gold medal awards for its “Happiest Moments” video, winning the Best Humanitarian & Services campaign in both the brand and non-profit categories of the Inaugural Anthem Awards, produced by the renowned Webbys Awards. These awards, selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, are considered the most prestigious in the digital world. Innocence Project Digital Engagement Director Alicia Maule, who led the campaign, used the five-word acceptance speech to spotlight Melissa Lucio facing execution in Texas on April 27, 2022, for a crime that never occured. 

“Happiest Moments,” produced in both English and Spanish and narrated by actress Dascha Polanco, tells the remarkable stories of three wrongly convicted people — Rosa Jimenez, freed in 2021 after 17 years in prison; Termaine Hicks, exonerated in 2020 after 16 years in prison; and Huwe Burton, exonerated in 2019 after 20 years in prison. They are three of the 237 people exonerated and freed with the help of the Innocence Project. The video highlights the intergenerational and familial impact of wrongful incarceration, and the irreplaceable memories that were stolen from them while incarcerated. It also celebrates the joy they felt when reunited with their loved ones.

“The Innocence Project is proud to accept these awards,” said Ms. Maule. “This has been a tremendous team effort with our clients, the guidance of Hayden5, and the impactful approach of director Ariel Ellis. Dascha Polanco was the perfect narrator to connect English and Spanish speakers to our organization. Our goal is to grow the innocence movement to new heights and ‘Happiest Moments’ helped us reach millions of people.”