MICHAEL THOMPSON

FREE MICHAEL THOMPSON

UPDATE:

After serving 23 years behind bars, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has granted Michael Thompson’s request for clemency! Thank you to everyone who made calls, wrote letters and emails, and donated in support of Michael's freedom! This would not have happened without YOUR advocacy.


Michael is expected to be released some time in January.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

CALL THE PAROLE BOARD:

Michigan Parole Board:
(517) 373-0270

Parole-Board-Staff@michigan.gov


Because of your advocacy and support the Parole Board has scheduled an initial interview for Michael's commutation. But this is NOT ENOUGH. We need to urge them to expedite the process and recommend Michael's application for commutation to Governor Whitmer.

SAMPLE SCRIPT: “Hello, my name is ______. I’m calling in regards to Michael Thompson's application for commutation, MDOC #176309. Thank you for moving the process forward and scheduling an initial interview with Michael. However, if you do not expedite these hearings Michael may DIE in prison after contracting COVID before he is released. I am respectfully requesting that you move as expeditiously as possible to recommend Michael's application for commutation to Governor Whitmer.



The county prosecutor, state lawmakers, and Attorney General all agree that Michael DESERVES an immediate commutation. Please act to save this man's life. Thank you."


Governor Whitmer's Office:
(517) 373-3400


Governor Whitmer has the power to expedite Michael's application for clemency. We need to urge her to do so.

SAMPLE SCRIPT: “Hello, my name is ______. I’m calling in regards to Michael Thompson's application for commutation, MDOC #176309. I am calling to respectfully urge you to use your authority to expedite Michael's application for commutation. If these hearings are not expedited Michael may DIE in prison after contracting COVID before he is released.



The county prosecutor, state lawmakers, and Attorney General all agree that Michael DESERVES an immediate commutation. Please act to save this man's life. Thank you."



How to Respond


The Parole Board and MDOC have now started responding to our emails. This is a good sign and means we are getting through. Unfortunately, the Parole Board is attempting to use Michael's firearms charges to mitigate the injustice of his sentence and say that he does not deserve clemency. Below is a sample reply to this type of response.

 

"Simply because Michael was sentenced on additional charges, as most criminal offenders are, doesn’t make his de facto life sentence fair or just. While it is true that the firearms charges greatly enhanced Michael's sentence, these charges are inextricably tied to the underlying marijuana offense. 

 

Although Michael was given an additional 40-60 years on firearms charges, no weapon was used in the commission of the marijuana sale. The weapons were an antique firearm locked in a safe and his wife's firearm in her nightstand, however the marijuana sale was used as the basis for a search of his house and the guns were located. Having the guns was independently a crime because he had a weapons disability. Because he had a prior, nonviolent drug felony his second amendment rights were "disabled" and he could not legally own a firearm, despite Michigan being an open carry state. 

 

The exacerbation of Michael's sentence is based on a legal fiction called constructive possession. He did not possess the guns personally or physically but because they were in the house and he had "dominion or control" of the house the law imputes constructive possession. 

 

But for the marijuana charges, Michael would never have been charged with the firearms offense. Marijuana is now legal in the state of Michigan. No one deserves to die in prison for charges stemming from the sale of a now legal product."





His name is Michael Thompson. In 1994 he sold weed to an undercover informant in Michigan. He has been in prison ever since. It has been 25 years. And he still has 35 years left to serve. Michael is 69 years old now. In other words, he was given a life sentence for selling weed.



His mother, his father and his only son died while he was in prison. And recreational marijuana has been legalized in Michigan. Now we’re going to fight to get Michael free. We can do it. We must.



 





WE STILL NEED YOU! TELL GOV. WHITMER: SET MICHAEL THOMPSON FREE



Earlier this year Michael Thompson’s legal team submitted his clemency petition to the Michigan parole board. Over 20,000 of you joined their calls to support Michael's request for release, and your many emails and calls pushed the County Prosecutor, David Leyton to support Michael's clemency petition, stating that Michael's sentence "goes against the interests of justice and fairness."


Additionally, the Michigan Department of Corrections is now facing unprecedented challenges to prisoner health and safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael as a 68 year old with Type 2 diabetes is uniquely vulnerable to life-threatening complications of the virus.


Now, more than ever, we need your help to set Michael free. Don't let a cannabis sentence become a death sentence for Michael. Make your voice heard and FREE MICHAEL THOMPSON NOW!


THANK YOU FROM MICHAEL

Since launching our advocacy campaign for Michael we have had over 125,000 calls to action from our supporters to the Parole Board and Gov. Whitmer.


Your calls also resulted in the county prosecutor's office which originally sentenced Michael, as well as several local lawmakers, coming on to publicly support Michael's clemency petition. We ARE making change but we must keep fighting for Michael.

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GEORGE FLOYD CELEBRATION

​Michael has always continued the work of community building during his sentence which most recently resulted in a "Celebration of Life" for George Floyd. Over 50 individuals incarcerated at Muskegon Correctional Facility participated in the celebration which included an 8 minute and 46 second moment of silence. Michael also raised funds to serve a special meal for each of the participants. Some of the participants have shared their reflections with us in the hopes that we can give a voice to those currently incarcerated who stand in solidarity with the movement. Read more about the event and the reflections from the participants by clicking below.
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