Justice for Ahmad Nelson - Resentencing Now


Justice for Ahmad Nelson - Resentencing Now
The Issue
Ahmad Nelson, a native Detroiter, has spent the past 35 years behind bars, unjustly imprisoned since the tender age of 19. Now at 54, his youth and potential stolen by an unjust legal system, he continues to endure the burden of serving life in prison for a crime he neither committed nor witnessed. Ahmad’s four life sentences stem from a devastating series of events on July 14th, 1988, which resulted in the loss of four lives and Ahmad’s subsequent felony murder - arson and assault to murder convictions. Saddened by the loss of the victim's lives, Ahmad firmly maintains his innocence, and his story shows the systemic inequality within the carceral system which too often leads to excessive and inhumane sentences for Black and impoverished individuals. Ahmad's case reflects a deeply flawed process: a coerced confession obtained through fear and manipulation of his illiteracy, and a jury that ignored the absence of physical evidence linking him to the scene. Despite his plight, Ahmad has remained steadfast in his commitment to self-improvement. Ahmad has spent every year behind bars growing and giving. When he entered prison, he read at a first-grade level. Today, he holds a college degree. He’s mentored fellow inmates, led rehabilitation programs, and remained grounded in his faith. Ahmad has maintained a disciplinary record free from blemishes, and served as a tutor and counselor to fellow inmates. Recently, a new witness came forward saying that a gang leader, retaliating against Ahmad’s refusal to join, intentionally framed him. Ahmad had already survived a shooting by the same gang for refusing to join before this incident. Ahmad's case must be reexamined. Ahmad was coerced through intimidation and manipulation by Detectives Robert Gerd and Ronald Sanders. Detective Sanders’ techniques have played a role in numerous wrongful convictions. Ahmad’s resilience is extraordinary, but unfortunately, his experience is not unique. His story mirrors a broader crisis where Black, Brown and low-income individuals are routinely overpoliced, discriminated against, and handed excessive, life-altering sentences without due consideration of the facts or their humanity. Fighting for Ahmad is a fight against a system that too often ignores the humanity and individual stories of those it convicts. There have been relevant changes in Michigan Law On April 1st, 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in People v. Taylor/People v. Czarnecki that sentencing 19-year-olds to life without parole violates Michigan’s Constitution (Article 1, § 16), which bars cruel and unusual punishment. On April 10th, 2025, the Court held in People v. Poole that its 2022 decision in People v. Parks—which banned mandatory life without parole for 18-year-olds—must be applied retroactively, recognizing it as a substantive rule of law. Ahmad deserves the same opportunity at a second chance. Contribute to repairing the unthinkable harm done by an unjust system. Please sign this petition and stand with us in solidarity to demand resentencing for Ahmad Nelson. Let’s stand together for truth, for mercy, and for a future where justice can still be made real. We can make a change. Justice for Ahmad Nelson. Resentencing now.
66
The Issue
Ahmad Nelson, a native Detroiter, has spent the past 35 years behind bars, unjustly imprisoned since the tender age of 19. Now at 54, his youth and potential stolen by an unjust legal system, he continues to endure the burden of serving life in prison for a crime he neither committed nor witnessed. Ahmad’s four life sentences stem from a devastating series of events on July 14th, 1988, which resulted in the loss of four lives and Ahmad’s subsequent felony murder - arson and assault to murder convictions. Saddened by the loss of the victim's lives, Ahmad firmly maintains his innocence, and his story shows the systemic inequality within the carceral system which too often leads to excessive and inhumane sentences for Black and impoverished individuals. Ahmad's case reflects a deeply flawed process: a coerced confession obtained through fear and manipulation of his illiteracy, and a jury that ignored the absence of physical evidence linking him to the scene. Despite his plight, Ahmad has remained steadfast in his commitment to self-improvement. Ahmad has spent every year behind bars growing and giving. When he entered prison, he read at a first-grade level. Today, he holds a college degree. He’s mentored fellow inmates, led rehabilitation programs, and remained grounded in his faith. Ahmad has maintained a disciplinary record free from blemishes, and served as a tutor and counselor to fellow inmates. Recently, a new witness came forward saying that a gang leader, retaliating against Ahmad’s refusal to join, intentionally framed him. Ahmad had already survived a shooting by the same gang for refusing to join before this incident. Ahmad's case must be reexamined. Ahmad was coerced through intimidation and manipulation by Detectives Robert Gerd and Ronald Sanders. Detective Sanders’ techniques have played a role in numerous wrongful convictions. Ahmad’s resilience is extraordinary, but unfortunately, his experience is not unique. His story mirrors a broader crisis where Black, Brown and low-income individuals are routinely overpoliced, discriminated against, and handed excessive, life-altering sentences without due consideration of the facts or their humanity. Fighting for Ahmad is a fight against a system that too often ignores the humanity and individual stories of those it convicts. There have been relevant changes in Michigan Law On April 1st, 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in People v. Taylor/People v. Czarnecki that sentencing 19-year-olds to life without parole violates Michigan’s Constitution (Article 1, § 16), which bars cruel and unusual punishment. On April 10th, 2025, the Court held in People v. Poole that its 2022 decision in People v. Parks—which banned mandatory life without parole for 18-year-olds—must be applied retroactively, recognizing it as a substantive rule of law. Ahmad deserves the same opportunity at a second chance. Contribute to repairing the unthinkable harm done by an unjust system. Please sign this petition and stand with us in solidarity to demand resentencing for Ahmad Nelson. Let’s stand together for truth, for mercy, and for a future where justice can still be made real. We can make a change. Justice for Ahmad Nelson. Resentencing now.
66
The Decision Makers
Petition created on April 11, 2025