TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Nov 14, 2022

Almost 550 guests joined the Tennessee Innocence Project for an evening of music and inspiration at the Inspired by Innocence fundraiser on Oct. 27. It was the Tennessee Innocence Project's largest event since its founding in 2019, raising more than $340,000. Guests lit up the Music City Center with tea lights — 95 lights, each representing one year wrongfully served in prison by each of the organization’s four exonerees — Shane Garrett, Joyce Watkins, Charlie Dunn and Claude Garrett. An additional 318 lights were later lit, each symbolizing one year lost in prison by the organization’s 12 current clients waiting to be exonerated. In total, 413 lights represented the 413 years served in prison by TIP clients. Read the full press release.

Lighting up the room with tea lights to represent the number of years exonerees and current clients have served in prison.

Nathaniel Dunn (son of exoneree Charlie Dunn), exoneree Joyce Watkins and Board Member Ed Kendrick.

Chancellor I’Ashea Myles (left) and guest.

Keynote speaker Dr. Roger Mitchell.

Rule of Law award presentation (left to right) Margaret Dodson, Scott Gallisdorfer, David Esquivel and TIP Executive Director Jessica Van Dyke.

Songwriters Jon Mabe and Marcus Hummon.

Photos by Ray Sanduski, submitted by the Tennessee Innocence Project