Yesterday, demonstrators once again gathered outside the office of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy amid growing impatience over what they perceive as inaction on cases linked to former Detroit detective Barbara Simon. According to Metro Times, these cases are said to have led to the wrongful convictions of innocent Black men, with Simon accused of using unethical and illegal tactics during her tenure with Detroit's homicide division in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Calls for Worthy to make moves have only intensified following the recent approval by the Detroit City Council of an $8.5 million settlement in a lawsuit against Simon. Protesters cite ongoing distress caused by the prosecutor's alleged delay in meeting families and reviewing Simon-related cases despite promises and the gathering of a database to review potential cases for reconsideration. The demonstrators brandished signs that chanted slogans signaling their disenchantment and demanding independent investigators.
Mark Craighead, founder of the advocacy group Freedom Ain't Free and one of the four men exonerated in cases investigated by Simon, was vocal in emphasizing the urgency for action. As per WWJ Newsradio, he stated that he had reached out to Worthy for a meeting, but her responses have been non-existent since her initial reply. His organization, launched alongside exoneree Lamarr Monson, aims to provide legal resources to those wrongfully imprisoned, spotlighting a commitment to rectifying miscarriages of justice.
Marlon Taylor, whose brother Damon Smith remains incarcerated, joined the protest to bring attention to his brother's claim of innocence in a case that involved Simon, where she allegedly manipulated evidence and testimonies. Smith has served over two decades in prison since being convicted in 2000. According to Metro Times, Taylor, highlighting the emotional toll on families, expressed a deep-seated desire for Simon's accountability and for Worthy's action. In response, Maria Miller, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, has stated that plans are in place to meet with protesters. Still, no date has been confirmed due to the prosecutor's busy schedule.
