A Celebration of Freedom and Justice: Innocence Project’s 2025 Gala
- Tobi Esther James
- May 14
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 8
On May 7, 2025, Cipriani Wall Street opened its doors to a night of reflection, resilience, and renewed hope as the Innocence Project hosted its annual gala, A Celebration of Freedom & Justice. Guests, exonerees, advocates, and supporters gathered not just to celebrate victories but to honor the strength and stories of those who have endured wrongful convictions and to recommit to the fight for a fairer justice system.
The evening opened with the familiar warmth and candor of Whoopi Goldberg, who hosted the gala once before in 2013. Her words were a poignant reminder of why we were all there: to acknowledge the resilience of the exonerees and the ongoing struggle to rectify the wrongs of a flawed system. She honored the voices too often silenced, reminding everyone that “every story deserves to be heard, and every life deserves justice.”
Among the honored guests were two of the nation’s newest exonerees: Marvin Grimm Jr., exonerated after 45 years in Virginia, and Scott Minton, freed after 31 years in Tennessee. Together, they endured nearly 80 years of wrongful imprisonment — a staggering testament to resilience and the fight for justice.
A hush fell over the room as a moment of silence was observed for Marcellus Williams, a man executed despite compelling evidence of his innocence. It was a solemn, searing reminder of the urgency of this work, and a call to action for all of us to demand better from our justice system.
The evening highlighted the power of storytelling, allowing exonerees to share their journeys in their own words. These stories are more than accounts of injustice—they are beacons of hope and catalysts for change. They remind us that the fight for justice is not just about policy reform, but about amplifying the voices of those most affected. Conversations throughout the night emphasized the critical need for continued advocacy – from improving access to DNA testing, to addressing flawed eyewitness identification practices, and everything in between.
Later in the evening, the electrifying energy of tap dance icon Savion Glover filled the room with a performance that captured the journey from despair to freedom. Tony Goldwyn, actor, board member, and longtime advocate, took the stage to honor the exonerees – reminding us that behind every statistic is a human being, someone who lost years, their dreams, and dignity, yet stands tall in the face of unimaginable adversity.
One of the evening’s most moving moments came as 41 exonerees were introduced and welcomed to the stage. As they stepped into the spotlight, the room erupted in applause of their courage and resilience. It was a moment that transcended words, a depiction of the community’s commitment to standing with them as they rebuild their lives.
Throughout the night, one thing was clear: the innocence movement is about more than freeing the innocent—it’s about restoring dignity, rebuilding lives, and ensuring that no one else suffers in silence.
