Archie Williams Reaches Finale of America’s Got Talent

Tonight the Innocence Project client fulfilled a life-long dream after spending 36 years wrongfully imprisoned.

09.23.20 By Innocence Staff

Archie Williams after auditioning for season 15 of

Archie Williams after auditioning for season 15 of "America's Got Talent." (Image: Trae Patton/NBC)

The Innocence Project offers our heartfelt congratulations to Archie Williams, who was a runner-up in tonight’s finale of America’s Got Talent. Over the past two months, Mr. Williams fulfilled a life-long dream, winning over the judges and reaching millions of people with his deeply moving vocals. After all he has endured, Mr. Williams won the moment he set foot on the stage. This is a joyous moment for all of those involved in Mr. Williams’ fight for justice. He transcends the unimaginable, and symbolizes hope for those who remain wrongfully imprisoned.

 

Mr. Williams spent 36 years in Louisiana’s Angola prison for a crime he did not commit before he was exonerated last year. At just 22 years old, he was wrongly convicted based on flawed evidence and received a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole. After almost four decades of pursuing justice, it took analysts mere hours to run fingerprints collected at the crime scene through a national database and find a match to the actual perpetrator of the crime. 

Unfortunately, there are far too many people like Mr. Williams who are still imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. We at the Innocence Project are thankful that Mr. Williams’ exoneration and freedom give him the opportunity to share his tremendous talents with the world, and shed light on the systemic problem of wrongful convictions.

 

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Trish Weems December 12, 2020 at 3:03 am Reply   

This is an example of how the judicial system needs to be revamped…weed out the corrupt judges and disbar the lying, cheating attorneys who will do whatever it takes for a win. The system is corrupt along with the political system…

Gloria Jackson November 16, 2020 at 12:47 am Reply   

I saw Mr. Williams on Steve Harvey show also. A spokesperson from Innocence Project was interviewed along with him. This was when I knew I had to get involved. I am so glad this is getting publicized.

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