Having lost over 18 years in New York State maximum security prisons following his wrongful conviction in 1991, Fernando Bermudez knows firsthand why the right to vote matters for the exonerated.
Proven innocent in late 2009, Mr. Bermudez’s exoneration made him the first Latin-American male in New York State legal history exonerated on “actual innocence” grounds. The sole evidence against him involved mistaken and coerced eyewitness identification by five teenagers, who later recanted their testimony.
Since being exonerated, Bermudez completed his bachelor’s degree in behavioral science in 2012 (earning Summa cum Laude honors) and helped abolish Connecticut’s death penalty with Connecticut legislators. He has also developed a distinguished public speaking career of over 300 lectures at venues including Columbia, Cornell, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth and Harvard.
Wrongfully convicted and unable to vote for 18 years, Bermudez also wanted his kids to know their vote matters.
“I recall clearly registering to vote at the post office in Washington Heights when I turned 18. But in those first few years after that I didn’t end up voting. After I got out was the first time I voted. And now more than ever I realize the importance of voting and I’m committed to voting consistently to set an example for my children.”
This year, his daughter, Carissa Bermudez, is voting for the first time. The 18-year-old said she has been inspired by her father’s activism since his wrongful conviction and is urging others to get to the polls, too. Both father and daughter voted in North Carolina, Mr. Bermudez from home via mail-in ballot and Ms. Bermudez, at college.
“I think about what happened to my dad, and his wrongful incarceration, when I consider candidates. I think about justice for young people of color when I vote,” Ms. Burmudez said.
The father and daughter both emphasized the importance of learning about candidates and said they’ve been working hard to educate those around them and share resources. In particular, they’ve been vocal about the importance of participating in local elections. In all but five states, prosecutors are elected officials.
Read more about the Burmudez family and their civic participation from the Innocence Project —>>> Voting Is a ‘Family Affair’ for This Exoneree
