JT Oral History Project
“I miss him.”
The interviews collected here chronicle the life and legacy of John Thompson.
They tell the cinematic story of his 18-year fight for freedom and the devastating impacts of his unjust incarceration and separation from his two sons.
We hear from friends, family, and loved ones about his incorrigible spirit and sense of humor, and his unfailing drive to support others coming home from incarceration and unjust sentences.
Many talk about the spark of inspiration and opportunity that led him to start Resurrection After Exoneration, and the tender ways he spoke about the complex and beautiful relationships on Death Row.
Each and every person interviewed shared the profound impact his generosity had on their lives, and the lives of others.
And all shared how much they miss him, and fervent wish that he was still here to guide us through the uncertain moments ahead.
LaVerne Thompson
LaVerne, JT’s wife, shares the story of their fairytale romance post his exoneration, and offers her unique insights into her husband’s life and legacy, as well as her efforts to keep his memory alive.
“John would make sure people had what they needed. If it was finances, he would go in our bank account to help pay bills for them, make sure they had the necessary things they needed. And he would always say, oh, I'm not worrying about no money. I'm good, you know, if I have to walk, or whatever I have to do. That man was a visionary, so kind, so generous, big heart, huge.”
Michael Banks
JT’s lawyer shares the dramatic details of the 14-year effort to free him, and the post-exoneration Supreme Court battle for accountability for those in power who targeted JT.
“John had this extraordinary emotional intelligence that you might not expect in anyone, let alone someone who went through what he suffered for so many years and faced imminent execution.”
JT’s son talks about the impact his father had on his life, the lessons he learned from a childhood spent visiting Death Row, and shares his dreams and hopes for breaking generational cycles of incarceration for his children.
John Thompson Jr.
“He taught us a lot of things from prison. Even though he was locked up, he still taught us how to be men and how to have relationships with our kids.”
Professor Andrea Armstrong
JT’s friend and colleague shares her memories of his impact on the legal system in Louisiana, his efforts to abolish the death penalty, and his clarity of vision.
“JT is a huge inspiration, right? He was boundless and also morally clear. In one of our earliest conversations, he said they put a warrant on me. They tried to kill me multiple times. That is attempted murder, right? In any other context. Putting out a hit on somebody, it is an attempted murder charge. But for me, nobody was ever held liable.”
Elisa Abolafia
The investigator whose dramatic last-minute discovery of hidden blood evidence led to JT’s exoneration speaks about her process in investigating the corrupt practices of Harry Connick Sr’s District Attorney’s Office.
“He didn't get his money and he wasn't about the money. He just wanted everything exposed so that future attorneys and investigators could understand that yes, you can make this happen. You can save somebody's life.”
Mercedes highlights the far-reaching impact of JT’s work to educate law students and the general public on his story, the impact of prosecutorial misconduct, and the dire effects of the death penalty.
Mercedes Montagnes
“This was a man who had been wronged in so many ways by so many different people, and he still got up every day and thought about how to make the world a better place. That was incredibly inspiring for me on a very personal level. Bad shit's gonna happen. And we have to like gird ourselves for that bad shit, and then move on.”