Hello, my name is Janet Downey, and I’m the wife of George Downey Jr.—a man who just took a powerful step toward justice after nearly six years of wrongful imprisonment.

For years, we fought a painful and uphill battle. In 2020, George was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for defending himself during an altercation—an act of self-protection that also shielded a woman from potential harm. It happened in a place he had every right to be, and no lives were lost. Yet, George became a casualty of a broken system and the outdated “10-20-Life” laws in Florida.

Even the sentencing judge acknowledged, “If I had more discretion, George would not be serving 25 years to life.”

But thanks to continued legal efforts, that unjust sentence has now been vacated. The courts recognized what we’ve always known—George deserves a fair trial, and his story deserves to be heard.

He is now home, reunited with loved ones. But the fight is far from over.

 
  What's at Stake Now
The State of Florida is preparing to retry George. We are grateful he can now defend himself from outside prison walls, but the reality is: we urgently need funds for legal defense and trial preparation.

We’ve exhausted our savings fighting for his release. Legal representation for the upcoming trial—investigators, court filings, and expert testimony—is costly, and time is short.

 
  Why This Matters
This case isn’t just about George. It’s about every person of color and every working-class family who’s ever been steamrolled by a system that doesn’t always deliver equal justice.

George is a devoted husband, son, and friend. He’s a former student-athlete, a faith-driven man, and a proud member of Prince Hall Masonry. He moved to Florida in search of opportunity, only to have his life derailed by one night and an inadequate defense.

We believe the truth will prevail—but we cannot do this alone.

 
  How You Can Help ....

Sign this petition to help us raise awareness and demand justice for George.
Share this story far and wide using the hashtag #JusticeForGeorgeDowney or #FreeGeorge.
Donate directly to the legal defense fund by scanning the QR code below (CashApp accepted). Every dollar goes toward fighting this case and ensuring George has the defense he never had the first time.
 
  In George’s Words
"This fight is not just mine—it's for anyone who’s ever been silenced or misrepresented. I’m grateful to be home, and I’m ready to keep pushing for the truth. I just need your support."
 
Together, we can keep George free. We can fight back against injustice. We can help ensure that courage and self-defense are not treated like crimes.

Please act now. Sign. Share. Donate. Let’s finish what we started.