Justice activists jennifer thompson and ronald cotton. Jennifer thompson, a critic of the reliability of eyewitness testimony following the exoneration of ronald cotton from her rape accusation. Jennifer thompson cannino was certain that ronald cotton was the man who raped her in 1984. In july 1984, an assailant broke into jennifer thompson canninos apartment and sexually assaulted her. Jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton, with erin. A rape victim and the man she falsely accusedin good faithcollaborate to share an important, affecting story of fatally mistaken identity. Cbss 60 minutes reported this story in 2009, the year the book was released as a hardcover. Our memoir of injustice and redemption by jennifer thompsoncannino ronald cotton erin torneo hardcover st. In july 1984, jennifer thompson was raped at knifepoint by a black man in her own apartment. Jennifer thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept.
Picking cotton picked for dubuques all community reads. Ronald, jennifer, and erin received the 2008 soros justice media fellowship for this book. The first time ronald cotton ever saw jennifer thompson was when she picked him out of a police lineup as the man who raped her. With courage and words, she survived and was able to use her memories of the night to bring her rapist to trial. One night in 1984, jennifer thompsoncannino was raped at knifepoint in burlington, north carolina.
She speaks frequently about the need for judicial reform, and is a member of the north carolina actual innocence commission, the advisory committee for active voices, and the constitution project. As dusk fell, they made their way out of the church. Jennifer thompson y ronald cotton, creadores del proyecto inocentes duration. Erin torneo, ronald cotton, jennifer thompsoncannino read by.
She had taken the witness stand, put her hand on the. Picking cotton1st edition our memoir of injustice and redemption by jennifer thompsoncannino, ronald cotton, erin torneo, cotton thompsoncannino hardcover, 304 pages, published 2009 by st. Jennifer thompson had for years said that ronald cotton was the man who raped her. Books by jennifer thompson cannino authors like jennifer thompson cannino what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists. Ronald cotton was exonerated in 1995, after spending over 10 years in prison for crimes he did not commit. Our memoir of injustice and redemption by torneo, erin, cotton, ronald, thompsoncannino, jennifer and a great selection of related books, art. Ronald cottons ability to forgive jennifer thompson for those eleven lost years is truly inspiring. Thanks to dna testing, after nearly eleven long years of claiming innocence and fighting the system, ronald cotton is finally and thankfully released for crimes he did not commit.
His convictions were based largely on flawed eyewitness identification procedures used by police at the time. Jennifer thompsoncannino is the author of picking cotton 4. The story of jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton, as told in firstperson voices in this gripping, wellwritten book, is exceptional. Jennifer thompsoncannino, ronald cotton, erin torneo thompsoncannino, jennifer cotton, ronald north carolinaburlington rape victims forgiveness infobuy. Picking cotton tells the true story of jennifer thompson, a white college student in north carolina who was raped at knifepoint, and ronald cotton, the black man she identified as her rapist. Ronald cotton celebrates 24th exoneration anniversary. Picking cotton by jennifer thompsoncannino overdrive. She was a 2007 new york foundation for the arts nonfiction fellow. Jennifer thompsoncannino, erin torneo and ronald cotton in the prologue of picking cotton by jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton, jennifer was at her daughters soccer game while her husband and son was out bonding. Ronald cotton, left, and jennifer thompson, right, are among those scheduled to speak to new orleans police department leaders during a twoday training on investigations, which is.
Our memoir of injustice and redemption by jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton with erin torneo had me at hello, however it was the complicated shapeshifting of relationships in this story that burned this book into me. Jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton, with erin tomeo. Petersburg times even the most cynical reader will be impressed with cottons resilience and grace. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken but jennifers positive identification was. Jennifer thompsoncannino, author, ronald cotton, author, erin torneo, with with erin torneo. Jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton with erin torneo. Jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton talked about the book they wrote with erin torneo, picking cotton. Opinion i was certain, but i was wrong the new york. Eyewitness, part 1 60 minutes cbs news lesley stahl reports on flaws in eyewitness testimony that are at the heart of the dna exonerations of. Ronald cotton, resembled the composite of the suspect. Jennifer thompson cannino books, book price comparison at.
Exonerated man and rape survivor who mistakenly idd him. The dubuque racing association funded a grant for the authors visit. After cotton spent 11 years in jail, dna evidence proved his innocence. Books by ronald cotton authors like ronald cotton what. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken but jennifers positive identification was the. Picking cotton and the perils of eyewitness identification duration. The new york times best selling true story of an unlikely friendship forged between a woman and the man she incorrectly identified as.
Im fascinated by redemption, forgiveness, and the power of being strong at the broken places, so it wasnt surprising that picking cotton. In the parking lot, their families weeping, jennifer thompson and ronald cotton embraced. Ronald cotton also lives with his wife and daughter north carolina. We were both his victims, cotton said, and thompson nodded in agreement. This coauthored true crime memoir depicting the 1984 rape of jennifer thompson and wrongful conviction of ronald cotton is an emotional and inspiring read. With picking cotton, jennifer and ronald tell in their own words the harrowing details of their tragedy, and challenge our ideas of memory and judgment while demonstrating the profound nature of human grace and the healing power of forgiveness. March 1, 2009 a rape victim and the man she falsely accusedin good faithcollaborate to share an important, affecting story of fatally mistaken identity. Jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton with erin torneo st. Ronald cottonhe just looked exactly like the man who raped me. Picking cotton ebook by erin torneo, jennifer thompson. Rich rosen, law professor, university of north carolina. Wearing only a blanket, she escaped and told police she was certain she could identify the man who had been inches from her face. Jennifer thompsoncannino, ronald cotton, erin torneo.
She was able to escape, and eventually positively identified ronald cotton as her attacker. Picking cotton ebook by erin torneo, jennifer thompsoncannino, ronald cotton author, isbn. And not a lot of time had elapsed between the crime and me looking at the pictures, so my memory was still very fresh. Books by jennifer thompson cannino authors like jennifer. I read this book nearly 10 years ago, and it had a powerful impact on me, said susan henricks, library director at carnegiestout. In a lineup and later in court, she identified ronald cotton as. It will culminate in a presentation by thompson and cotton at 7 p. Jennifer thompsoncannino was certain that ronald cotton was the man who raped her in 1984.
Justice activists jennifer thompson and ronald cotton given national honors on tuesday, innocence advocates ronald cotton and jennifer thompson were honored at the annual national crime victims service awards ceremony as part of the u. Top 10 books about miscarriages of justice books the. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken but jennifers positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. Picking cotton is a rare, pure story about power and powerlessness, and the fallibility of the human mind. Thompson was later presented with a police lineup of six men first by photograph and later a physical lineup, from which she picked out with 100 percent certainty her attacker a man named ronald cotton. Ronald cotton, left, and jennifer thompson, right, are among those scheduled to speak to new orleans police department leaders during a twoday training on investigations, which is hosted by nopd. In 2010, she received the american society of journalists and authors arlene eisenberg writing award for her work on picking cotton. Jennifer thompson oped article opposes execution of gary graham, recalling how dna evidence proved she identified the wrong man as rapist, even. In july 1984, an assailant broke into jennifer thompsoncanninos apartment and sexually assaulted her. Jennifer thompson athlete, new zealand discus thrower jennifer laura thompson born 1969, american stage actress. In their new book, jennifer thompsoncannino and ronald cotton recount the harrowing details of their tragedy, challenging our ideas about memory and judgment while demonstrating the profound nature of human grace and the healing power of. Jennifer thompsoncannino lives in north carolina with her family.
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