The community has long been seeking \u201cequality, equity, and fairness and balance in this judicial system in this country,\u201d said State Sen. Williams.<\/p>\n
In making a statement in support of Evans\u2019 release, Chester Mayor Kirkland also thanked attorney Malloy for his work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe stand in solidarity, to try to bring home someone who is innocent,\u201d said Kirkland. \u201cThese men and women who stand behind me and beside me are committed to doing what is right, committed to justice, committed to upholding the law, and committing to seeing truth is\u2026 well, that truth prevails.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evans\u2019 nephew, Eric Evans of Chester, was 3 years old when his uncle was incarcerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was devastating for us as a family,\u201d said Eric Evans. \u201cHe was that male figure that we all looked to. They took away our male matriarch \u2026 No one can hear our voice. We\u2019ve been crying out for 42 years.\u201d<\/p>\n He said Leroy Evans is his father figure, as well as a mentor who taught all his nieces and nephews \u201chow to cope with life.\u201d<\/p>\n Eric Evans runs FiDonce, an organization that\u2019s about instilling confidence in kids \u201con and off the [basketball] court.\u201d A program called \u201cFrom the Baller to the Briefcase\u201d helps kids transition into careers in the business world.<\/p>\n He said this moment, anticipating his uncle\u2019s release, is \u201cbittersweet\u201d without the foundation of the family: Leroy Evans\u2019 mother, Alice Evans, who provided Evans and the family with emotional and spiritual support and fought for 41 years for her son\u2019s release.<\/p>\n In heaven, Eric Evans said, Leroy\u2019s sister and his mother \u201care crying tears of joy. But we will not be satisfied until Leroy Evans\u2019 feet touch the ground outside.\u201d<\/p>\n He noted all the other cases in Pennsylvania and nationally involving predominantly Black and brown men<\/a> who were wrongfully convicted<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe evidence, and like so many other cases, is overwhelming,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Leroy Evans\u2019 case falls in line with a pattern of wrongful convictions in the 1980s and \u201990s across the commonwealth. That\u2019s part of the reason why Attorney General Josh Shapiro created the Conviction Integrity Unit in 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt needs to be looked at with a real fine-toothed comb,\u201d said Eric Evans. \u201cBecause some of those people that are incarcerated are not blessed enough to come out alive. Some die in there wrongfully convicted.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he\u2019s looking forward to doing the \u201cnormal things\u201d again with his uncle, like family dinners. He plans to take him to the beach, so he can feel the sand on his feet.<\/p>\n Leroy Evans\u2019 sisters, who exclaimed joyfully Tuesday morning, said they are just waiting to embrace their brother. They believe it will happen soon.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to come and put our arms around him,\u201d said Niecy Evans. \u201cWe\u2019re waiting for him. He\u2019s getting ready to come here into some joy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"State](\"https:\/\/whyy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/State-Senator-Anthony-Williams-alongside-Chester-Mayor-Thaddeus-Kirkland-raising-fists-with-Leroy-Evans-family-Chester-community-members-and-the-Delaware-County-Black-Caucus.-Emily-Rizzo-WHYY-1024x768.jpg\")