Urge Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to Grant Clemency to Anthony Dansberry!

Anthony Dansberry is serving a 75-year sentence for a robbery and murder he didn’t commit. He was convicted based on extremely shaky identification evidence and a typed confession that he signed under the mistaken belief that the papers he signed would secure his release. Because there is no physical evidence for DNA testing, Anthony’s best hope of being released is clemency from Governor Quinn.

Anthony was just 27 at the time of his arrest and had no prior criminal record or history of violence. Four eyewitnesses viewed a lineup that included Anthony, and only one witness – who had previously seen Anthony’s photo in a photo array - picked him out. Another witness said that Anthony was definitively NOT the perpetrator.

Anthony has a low IQ and the reading comprehension of a first grader. The so-called confession uses words like “viaduct” and “southbound,” which are not words in his vocabulary. Anthony has always maintained that he was told that the papers he signed were for his release. His aunt has corroborated his account saying that he told her when he was eventually given an opportunity to call her after his arrest that he had signed “release papers.” The Center on Wrongful Convictions, which is representing Anthony, has produced a short video about his case here.

Please urge Governor Quinn to exercise his clemency power and release Anthony.