Rethinking Race: The Comeback of Zip Michael Sutton
This event features Michael Sutton, a freed client of the Ohio Innocence Project, who was acquitted in September 2022 after serving 15 years in prison for an attempted murder he did not commit. It is hosted by the UA student organization chapter of the Ohio Innocence Project, co-sponsored by Criminal Justice Association and Sociology Club.
About the event
This student-led event in the context of Rethinking Race 2023 featured Michael Sutton who was convicted in 2007 of attempted murder and other crimes he did not commit.
The day 18-year-old Michael Sutton was arrested on these charges is also the day that he learned that he had a scholarship to the University of Akron. He had hoped to enroll in the business school that fall but was tried and convicted and subsequently spent 15 years behind bars as an innocent man. The Ohio Innocence Project celebrated the exoneration of Michael, their 35th successful client since its foundation in 2003 in September 2022.
Learn more about Michael Sutton's case details.
Media coverage
With close to 100 folks we had a really great turnout at our event with Michael Sutton, , and we also got amazing UA press coverage and made the front page of the Akron Beacon Journal a day after the event, which really captured and lifted the voice and strong spirit of Michael Sutton despite the immense injustice he experienced. The coverage sparked the president of UA to offer full rides to Michael and Kenny. We made frontpage of the Akron Beacon Journal a second time and the story was also featured on ABC news.
Thank you
Huge THANK YOU goes to Pierce Reed from OIP Cincinnati who makes events possible for us every semester and sponsors the speakers, treats our student leaders to state-wide networking and is an all-knowing wizard, changemaker and organizer. Thank you also to the Rethinking Race Committee, particularly Dr. Sandie Crawford and vice president Dr. Sheldon Wrice for providing the framework, kind support, and your presence. Thank you to Dean Mitchell McKinney for treating the audience to snacks with an innovation grant. Without the goddess of marketing Lisa Craig who wrote a great piece for UA news about the event, we would not have gotten the great ABJ coverage, thank you. Thank you also to Jamie Newhall who has skillfully video-recorded the event, and thank you to my wonderful colleagues Angie Brown, Dr. Robert Peralta, Stephanie Yuhas and the one and only Dr. Insun Park for on-site & background support.
The biggest applause and gratitude go to the student officers of our UA OIP chapter, particularly Gil Kalina Hammond who served as event chair and is the incoming president of our chapter. Gil has masterminded the event, and together with president Megan Wilson and treasurer Jess Hess (in a double role for the Criminal Justice Association) worked tirelessly (at all day and night times) behind the scenes for many weeks. What we experienced was their ideas, their compassion, and their work in action, sweetly supported by Sieanna Rice, a newer member of UA OIP. Thank you also to Morgan Lockett and Katelee Mata for your hand on support and work on behalf of the Sociology Club. We do indeed have a vibrant interdisciplinary student life that reaches into the community, and you showed that with much passion and enthusiasm yesterday! Thank you, y’all rock.
Want to get involved?
If you are a student interested in the OIP campus chapter see more information here and connect with Dr. Daniela Jauk-Ajamie (Faculty adviser, Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Akron).
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