New York, NY – After nearly a quarter of a century spent behind bars for a crime he did not commit, actor Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, known for his role in the film “Sing Sing,” has been officially exonerated of his wrongful murder conviction.
Velazquez, visibly emotional, embraced friends and family at a courthouse in downtown Manhattan on Monday morning, where a judge declared his innocence. The actor stars alongside Colman Domingo in the prison drama “Sing Sing,” a film that tells the story of incarcerated men finding purpose through theater productions while inside the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where Velazquez himself was once wrongfully imprisoned.
In a show of support, fellow “Sing Sing” actor Clarence Maclin, director Greg Kwedar, and playwright Brent Buell, portrayed by Paul Raci in the film, were present at the courthouse. The exoneration drew a crowd chanting “¡Sí se puede!” as Velazquez exited the building, wearing a hat that read, “End of an Error.”
Following his release, Velazquez spoke with NBC’s Lester Holt, expressing sorrow over the lost time with his children and condemning the system that had kept him incarcerated. He emphasized that his exoneration was not a cause for celebration but rather an indictment of a justice system riddled with flaws.
Velazquez’s nightmare began in 1998 when he was wrongly convicted of the murder of a retired New York police officer. Despite evidence proving his innocence, it wasn’t until August 17, 2021, that he was granted executive clemency by then New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. After nearly 24 years of imprisonment, Velazquez finally walked out of Sing Sing prison on September 9, 2021.
During a forum on criminal legal reform in October 2022, President Joe Biden publicly apologized to Velazquez on behalf of society for the wrongful conviction. Velazquez, a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, acknowledged that while the apology could not undo the past, it was a step towards reclaiming his dignity and highlighting the flaws within the system.
Velazquez’s involvement in “Sing Sing,” a project he took on shortly after his release from prison, has been a significant part of his healing process. The film, based on a true story, centers around a man wrongly imprisoned finding solace through theater while at Sing Sing. The community-based financial model of the film allowed all members of the cast and crew to be paid equally, fostering a sense of solidarity and shared success among everyone involved.
Looking ahead, Velazquez, now a criminal legal reform activist, aspires to continue his acting career while using his platform to advocate for those still behind bars. His journey from wrongful conviction to exoneration serves as a testament to resilience and hope in the face of injustice.