Yesterday was one of those days that re-enforces why I'm a photojournalist. You know, "Truth with a camera" and all that...
Lebrew Jones leaves the Queensboro Correctional Facility in Long Island City, Queens, NY at 9:31AM on Thursday, November 19, 2009. Jones served more than 22 years behind bars for a murder that he, the victim's mother and a growing number of experts insist he did not commit. Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON
There wasn't any hesitation in waking up just before 4:30AM yesterday, starting my day to head to Long Island City, Queens for the assignment to photograph Lebrew Jones being released from a city correctional facility in the shadow of midtown Manhattan. The paper has covered Lebrew's story extensively the last few years, as a former reporter of ours, Christine Young (hugging Lebrew below) followed the case of what appears to be his wrongful incarceration 20+ years ago.
Click this link to view my photos of Lebrew's release yesterday, our earlier stories, and the paper's award winning multi-media piece.I kept wondering to myself what do you say to a man who's been incarcerated for more than 20 years...? Needless to say, it was some kind of emotional morning for everyone involved there in NYC. -cg.
