Clemency advocacy group rallies at Michigan Capitol: 'I hoping somebody hears what I'm saying'
Jakkar AimeryLansing — When Flint native Michael Thompson was released from prison in January 2021 after serving 25 years of a 42 to 60-year sentence stemming from a marijuana sting, he felt free and frustrated at the same time.
Thompson said knowing he couldn't go back and "make those years up" and not having "a whole lot of help" once released for a non-violent offense was hard to process.
"Sometimes, I cry to myself, ya know. ... I see all these people making millions and billions of dollars off of marijuana, and then you let me get stuck in the system like that," Thompson, 72, told The Detroit News. "I'm hoping somebody hears what I'm saying, somebody who can make a difference. I'm tired of talking to myself."
On Saturday afternoon, dozens descended on the steps of the Michigan Capitol to call for more clemency in the Great Lakes State. There were applauses and sporadic shouts of affirmation as speakers made their demands known.
The rally, sponsored by the Michael Thompson Clemency Project, urged Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to reduce prison sentences for seniors who have served at least half of their sentences, inmates with chronic illnesses, individuals with convictions related to marijuana, persons sentenced to life without parole as juveniles, and individuals automatically tried as adults for crimes committed as youth.
The event featured free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, presentations from activists and speeches from elected officials, including Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Hill Harper.
During his speech, Bernstein said as a judge, he could not take a position because of possible pending litigation. Rather, he posed a comment on citizens who've been impacted by reduced penalties.
"For the last 10 months, I have been blessed to work so closely with returning citizens, and what do you find when they have the opportunity to work with someone like Michael Thompson; what do you find when you work with a person as courageous as him, as noble as him? ... You see people that are genuinely working to make things better," Bernstein said. "You see people who don't leave people behind."
In December 2020, Whitmer granted clemency to four Michigan men who were convicted of non-violent offenses.
Along with Thompson's commutation, Lawrence Cadroy, who was sentenced in 1999 on drug possession; Lorenzo Garrett, who was sentenced in 1999 for selling drugs; and Larry McGhee, who was sentenced in 2004 for selling drugs, were also released.
“These commutations offer a second chance to four individuals who have accepted responsibility and paid their debts to society and whose sentences span decades for non-violent offenses," Whitmer said in 2020.
Commutations shorten people's sentences to a specific number of years but don't erase their convictions.
On Saturday, Savit said it's important to have humility and recognize that "laws that were previously in place and that we've moved on from, societal attitudes have changed ... or individual people have, indeed, changed and are safe to be released from prison."
As prosecutor of Michigan's sixth most populous county, Savit said his office launched a unit in 2021 that has vacated two wrongful convictions to date. The unit also partners with organizations across the county on expungement-related work, he added.
In November 2018, Michigan voters approved Proposal 1 to legalize recreational marijuana, allowing adults older than the age of 21 to possess up to 2.5 ounces of the plant legally under state law. On the federal level, it remains illegal.
At the rally, Harper critiqued the criminal justice system, describing it as "broken."
"It is a moral travesty of what is happening with our mass incarceration system," Harper said. "... At the end of the day, the solution is simple: We just need to love each other, we need to support each other, we need to recognize our common humanity and we need to act appropriately."
Thompson said too many behind bars have been forgotten.
"That's the reason why I'm here; I'm trying to make some noise for those that can't speak for themselves ... it don't come without a fight, and I'm fighting for those who can't fight for themselves."
jaimery@detroitnews.com