Boris Franklin: New Brunswick. 11 years in prison. Released in May 2015 at age 42. Father of Four. Assistant director of the New Directions program for prisoners. Currently a full-time student at Rutgers University.
DEDICATION
We have been buried alive behind these walls for years, often decades. Most of the outside world has abandoned us. But a few friends and family have never forgotten that we are human beings and worthy of life. It is to them, our saints, that we dedicate this play.
The Playwrights
Chris Hedges: Princeton. Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, which he wrote with the cartoonist Joe Saco. He teaches in prisons in New Jersey.
Eunice Wong: Princeton. Trained at the Juilliard School Drama Division received the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, a Barrymore Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress, and a member of Actors' Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. (www.eunicewong.com)
Lawrence: Camden. 24 years in prison. Eligible for parole at age 70 in 2045.
Arrested at the age of 14.
Gene: Edison. 30 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2014. Navy veteran. He
served as a hospital corpsman. The father of seven children.
Leonardo: Jersey City. 13 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2022 at age 53.
The father of a beautiful girl and boy.
Thomas: Newark. 23 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2021 at age 51. Son of
Zuberi B. Bandeie and Willa Dollard.
Ronnie: Jefferson. 2 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2032 at age 55. Never
been married. No children. Graduated from high school in 1995.
Shaheed: Newark. 16 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2016 at age 38.
Arrested at the age of 18.
Jacinto: Willingboro. 28 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2015 at age 56. Ex-
husband. Ex-father. Ex-soldier, U.S. Army. 11 years on death row.
De-Von: Newark. 11 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2017 at the age of 37.
For my son Je’von. I’ve changed for you. For my mother Kathy Holloman. For my beautiful wife, Amira Hubbard Holloman. Loyalty is royalty.
Sincere: Paterson. 17 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2037 at age 68. Father
of Pilar L. Jackson. Son of Mary E. Riggins. Sentenced to a prison term of life plus 40 years, 115 years, with a 50-year parole ineligibility.
Brian: 11 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2028 at age 50. Was once lost and
without hope. But found hope through the blood of Jesus.
Anthony: Plainfield. 18 years in prison. Release date 2029 at age 52. Arrested at
the age of 18. Learned to read and write in prison at 20. Self-taught musician.
Wrote the music for the play.
James: Elizabeth. 21 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2024 at age 55. I am a
Muslim striving to get closer to Allah, as I also continue to fight to regain freedom to be a better leader for my family during those days and times.
Robert: Newark. 11 years in prison. Release date 2019 at age 34. Arrested the age
of 18. Found freedom behind bars.
Domingo: Paterson. 24 years in prison. Serving 30 years to life. Eligible for parole in 2021. President of the Lifers Group. Writes poetry.
Omar: Newark. 14 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2016 at age 35. Arrested
at the age of 18.
Sammy: Newark. 21 years in prison on a 45 years to life sentence. Eligible for
parole in 2033 at age 63. Hopes one day to do prison ministry.
Samuel: Queens. 21 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2023 at age 47. Arrested at the age of 17. A son, an uncle, a husband, the father of a little girl and a proud Puerto Rican.
Fernando: Trenton. 12 years in prison. Eligible for parole 2018 at age 36. Arrested at the age of 19. Looks forward to the day he can again be with his beautiful mother, Ani.
David: Brooklyn. 28 years in prison. A 12-year veteran of the Air Force. Eligible
for parole in 2025. The father of two wonderful children.
Habeeb: Newark. 15 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2024 at age 45. The
father of Kayla Monec Scott. A Muslim.
Timmy: Paterson. 19 years in prison. Conceived of rape in South Carolina. Raised back and forth between the calm of the country and Paterson. Eligible for parole in 2025 at age 52. Arrested at the age of 20.
Marvin: Irvington. 22 years in prison. Army veteran. Eligible for parole in 2020.
The father of Ta’Nazia Spears.
Hashim: Newark. 22 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2021. From the 7 th
Avenue Projects. Father of Nadiyh. Son of Marie Stokes.
Ra’zulu: Atlantic City. 23 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2024 at age 55.
Father of three, Samira Stewart, Shameek Stewart and Shawn Ra’Zulu Chambers.
Hector: Newark. 24 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2019 at age 47. Arrested at the age of 17.
Jasson: Trenton. 19 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2018 at age 46. The
father of two daughters, Destinee and N’zinga, who have never experienced a day of their father’s freedom.
Stephen: Newark. 15 years in prison. Eligible for parole in 2018 at age 45. Father
of Ayannah Hunter-Ali, SaKinah M. Banks, Javonte’ Jackson, Stephan Banks and
Keon Hunter.