From Prison to Protest: Exoneree Leads Rally for the Wrongfully Convicted
Article and Photos by James Jackson
Taron Hill stood proudly with a megaphone in his hand near the Camden County Hall of Justice on April 18.
After leaving prison in what he describes as a case built on little evidence, he now works tirelessly to help others he believes were wrongfully convicted.
Hill said he was falsely accused of a double homicide at age 18 and sentenced to 60 years in prison. He served more than 16 years before being exonerated in July 2021 by New Jersey’s Conviction Review Unit.
Hill organized a protest the outside the Camden County Hall of Justice, drawing dozens of people, including other exonerees, family members and curious onlookers. It was his second rally. The first took place in 2023 outside the governor’s office in Trenton.
As the protest’s start time shifted from 10 a.m. to noon, attendees filled the wait by sharing personal stories of exoneration and resilience.
LaShawn Fitch was sentenced to 40 years in prison and served 17 for murder and robbery. He later received clemency in 2024 through an initiative by Gov. Phil Murphy.
“It cost me 17 years of my life, did I commit the crime? absolutely not,” said Fitch.
At 22, he learned the ropes of the law through reading and through the knowledge of others, and later told his attorney he would represent himself.
As the rally began, attendees gathered while speakers took turns addressing the crowd and holding the Camden County court system accountable.
After Hill addressed the crowd through a megaphone, New York City attorney Justin Bonus spoke to attendees, who had formed a circle outside the Camden County Hall of Justice.
“Every case has different evidence every person has been convicted for different reasons, said Bonus, who referenced ongoing cases he represents. “I don’t believe they are innocent, I know they are innocent,” Bonus shouted.
According to Innocence Project, an exoneration happens when a person convicted of a crime is officially cleared based on new evidence of innocence. This can happen through a pardon based on actual innocence, an acquittal at retrial, or when a conviction is vacated and the indictment is dismissed.
As Bonus criticized the Camden County court system and police for relying on informants and securing convictions with limited evidence, the crowd responded with chants of “Shame!” and “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now.”
Among the people in the crowd was Mona Pritchett. She joined the rally on behalf of her son, John Pritchett, who has been incarcerated for 23 years.
“23 years in jail for something that you didn’t do is a long time, she said. “That’s almost three decades of somebody’s life.”
“He needs to be free to be with his children and they know who did it. Convict the right person,” she added.
After the rally, Hill said his work is far from over. He plans to encourage universities and law schools to become more involved in the court process.
“Many students help review cases and work with innocence projects,” Hill said. “But they’re not showing up to court hearings. If 30 to 50 law students showed up for a hearing, it would put pressure on prosecutors to do what’s right.”
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Date Posted :
May 27, 2026