2020 was certainly a crazy year for everyone around the world and we here at FreeRobWill.org hope you have made it through relatively unscathed! We wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your support this year and take a moment to look back at some of the milestones and achievements we have reached this year in the fight to save Rob's life!
Due to the ongoing pandemic, prisons all across the globe have been forced to close their visitation days to friends and family of the incarcerated. This is especially impactful to inmates kept entirely in solitary confinement like those held on Texas Death Row.
Rob's last visit was in January and other than a handful of 5 minute telephone calls he has had no contact with his loved ones other than (delayed) letters for almost a year.
In February, Rolling Stone magazine published an outstanding article, Will Texas Execute an Innocent Man? by Erik Hedegaard.
The article not only covers the history of Rob's case, including the crime he is wrongfully accused of and the arduous legal process he has been submitted to, but also an interview with Rob himself.
You can read the full article here:
In March, Circular City Week New York, Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom, Universe City × The Vanderbilt Republic proudly presented Free Rob Will III: “Psychosocial Dimensions” — an immersive group installation.
Sadly, Rob's third New York art exhibition was cut very short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can check out pictures from the event here:
In May, Rob's case was featured in the very second episode of new true crime podcast, Crimes of a Decade: A Texas True Crime Podcast.
This 35 minute podcast covers much of Rob's case from the initial crime scene to the trial and post-conviction issues Rob has faced.
You can listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
In June, Now This Media, Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom and Facebook produced a short documentary focusing entirely on Rob's case. Jason talks directly with Rob's lead attorney about the massive failures in Rob's capital murder conviction and subsequent death sentence. The film also features exclusive video footage of Rob being interviewed at the Polunsky Unit, one of only two videos of Rob in his 20 year incarceration.
You can watch it here:
In August, The Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals released their long awaited decision approving Rob's application for a successive habeas appeal.
They stated, "with the new evidence in hand, the uncertainties are even more disturbing.... Will has made a sufficient showing to proceed to a fuller review. He’s demonstrated it is reasonably likely that, after hearing the new evidence alongside the old evidence, every reasonable juror would have some level of reasonable doubt.”
You can read more about it HERE.
In October, My Corner of the Universe sat down and had a chat with Tish and Jess about working for Free Rob Will.
A very informal chat with the two of them over international zoom discusses the details of Rob's case, the new decision made by the 5th Circuit, and the hidden evidence that spurred the approval.
You can watch the interview on YouTube here:
On December 4th 2020, Rob reached the sad milestone of twenty years since his arrest and last day as a free man.
Within this time he has missed watching his child grow up, instead spending his twenties and thirties in a solitary cell 23 hours a day for a crime he did not commit.
Although this year has been a positive one for Rob, we must never forget the uphill battle he faces to overturn his death sentence and finally live the free life he deserves.
We look forward to 2021 with hope and with much gratitude for everyone who has shown Rob their support this year, whether by writing a letter, signing a petition, or just sharing a social media post. It all matters more than you know.
And to finish on a very positive note, Wrongful Conviction Podcast with Jason Flom launches Rob's episode on January 6th 2021. We will provide the link as soon as we have it!
Thank you all again and Happy New Year!!