Taymor McIntyre—Tay-K—was 16 when the state decided he didn’t deserve a future. One robbery, one tragic death, and a stacked courtroom later, he was sentenced to 55 years. He didn’t pull the trigger. He wasn’t the shooter. But he became the scapegoat. They saw a young Black kid, scared and reactive, and gave him adult time. They didn’t care about context. They cared about making an example out of someone who went viral.

While out on bond, Tay-K ran. He made “The Race,” a track that went viral because it was legitimate art from a talented young artist. It hit because people saw reality—a teenager boxed into a corner, lashing out the only way he could. He became a national symbol of how broken the system is. They used his song to promote the case. They let the media convict him before the court did. The same media that convicted Donald Trump.

Pardoning Tay-K wouldn’t erase what happened. It wouldn’t bring anyone back. But it would be the first real sign that the justice system is capable of course correction. Of mercy. Of seeing humanity in the kids it loves to discard.

I’m Erik Houdini, founder of HOUDINI, and I’m just one of thousands of artists who agree, Tay-K needs to be pardoned, and it's time we stand behind this. 

Donald Trump, Pardon Tay-K.