Petition to Release Clarence Williamson III aka  Mark Howard B60163

For decades black men have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced for crimes they did not commit. For decades black men have been given sentences that are outrageous for crimes they didn't commit. Illinois has a law that needs to be changed and that is the "Accountability of Theory Act." Where one is guilty by association just for being there but did not actually commit the crime. This is what has happened to this man his entire young life was taken from him for a crime he did not commit and it happened in the Cook County jail on September 17, 1998.

Meet Mark Howard.
This petition is to get more signatures and support and for those to write to the Governor of Illinois on behalf of Mr. Howard and ask that he be granted release or to allow the DNA motion to be heard, and the post-conviction to set this man free from a crime that he did not commit.

The Cook County Jail in Chicago is known for brawls and his case needs to be re-examined to see the flaws and mistakes that lie within it.

Mark Howard has been incarcerated for over 20+ years for a Cook County Jail Brawl that happened on September 17, 1998, where one inmate was murdered. Mr. Howard has tried on numerous occasions to prove that he did not have anything to do with the murder.  He has requested that DNA be done on a food tray to prove he did not hit the victim with the tray. Division 9 of the Cook County Jail is known for brawls and these incidents are continuing to happen to this very day. 
 
Another inmate who committed the murder; confessed and did a radio interview with NPR in 2014 stating he was defending himself when he stabbed the victim basically admitting his guilt.  Mr. Howard was found guilty under the Accountability Theory Act. Mr. Howard has made continuous requests for DNA testing to be done to prove his innocence. The coroner report states the victim was not hit with any object that he died from a stab wound to the back. 

Free Mr. Mark Howard and give him his life back. Systemic racism has taken a lot of black men away from their parents and family because of an unjust system. Illinois needs to truly reassess the Accountability of Theory Act.

Mr. Howard needs our help; and desperately needs the State of Illinois, the Governor of Illinois, and the Parole Board to grant him release time considered served.  Kim Fox, the States Attorney needs to review his case and do assist with a resolution to this situation.  He was wrongfully convicted, and we need to petition for his release.

We pray that the Illinois Governor, Parole Board, and States Attorney read our pleads and grant him release with an opportunity to live his life without being behind bars for an “Act” that needs to be reassessed in the State of Illinois.