 www.araustralia.org |
Alternative Radio (Aust.) PO Box 780 Morwell Victoria 3848 Australia tel. 61-3-5134-8556 mob. 61-413-597-828 inquiries@araustralia.org |
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www.araustralia.org |
Alternative Radio (Aust.) PO Box 780 Morwell Victoria 3848 Australia tel. 61-3-5134-8556 mob. 61-413-597-828 inquiries@araustralia.org |
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Most of us were introduced to the story of the 'Hurricane' via the Bob Dylan song of the same name. Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter spent almost 20 years in prison, wrongfully jailed for the murder of a barman and two patrons in a New Jersey Bar in 1966. His name was immortalised in the Dylan song and the 1999 movie staring Denzel Washington. Carter was first convicted in 1966 and then again in a retrial in 1976. A third trial in 1985, instigated by three Canadian civil rights activists, led to the overturning of his earlier convictions. The judge in that trial concluded that Carter's convictions had been "predicated upon an appeal to racism rather than reason, and concealment rather than disclosure".
Since his release in 1985 'Hurricane' Carter has dedicated himself to supporting projects that overturn wrongful convictions. In October 2003 Griffith University in Queensland bestowed on the former convict the honorary degree of Doctor of the University. 'Hurricane' was nominated for the degree by the University's "Innocence Project". This project is "committed to freeing innocent persons who have been wrongfully convicted." 'Hurricane' Carter's address was recorded by Brisbane Indigenous station 4AAA-FM at a gala fundraising dinner to celebrate the awarding of his degree. ** CD only |