Louisiana Man Who Was Exonerated After 36 Years In Prison Sings Live At The Apollo Theater

Dec 06, 2019 by apost team

In 1982, Archie Williams was arrested and sentenced to life in jail for a crime he never committed. Williams took his case up with the Innocence Project and was exonerated for his crimes 36 years later. 

Now a free man, Williams is pursuing his dream of being a musician and got to perform in front of a live audience at the Apollo Theatre. 

In 1982, Archie was tragically charged with attempted murder and the rape of a woman in Louisiana - a crime that he didn't commit. When he was chosen out of a lineup of photos by a victim, Archie received a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. In a clip offered by WPIX 11, Archie said that he "was maliciously prosecuted". He revealed that Louisiana knew he was innocent.

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In 1995, Archie reached out to an organization dedicated to helping prove the wrongly convicted as innocent. The Innocent Project took his case. It took Archie a decade of wrongful conviction to finally receive some justice. Technology not available at the time of his conviction ultimately proved his innocence. The fingerprints present at the scene of the crime didn't match Archie's. After being freed, Archie told lawyers behind The Innocence Project that he wanted to head to New York. He just arrived last week in Harlem.

It was amateur night at the Apollo Theater and Archie decided to take the stage and showcase his amazing voice. Music was one thing that helped Archie get through his gutwrenching experience. Archie is still competing in the event, and he's incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

Archie entered the Apollo Theater’s amateur night, showcasing his awesome voice. Music has been one of the things that have helped him through the unusual trajectory his life has taken. He’s still in the competition, and he’s grateful for the chance to sing.

When speaking about the experience of singing on that famous stage, Archie said that it made him "feel wonderful." He was happy to know that he could touch people with this gift. If you found this article inspiring, show it to a family member or friend. What do you think about his story? Tell us in the comments.