The Waverly Two

Terrence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne should never have lost their freedom. In 1998, they were accused of killing a police officer in Waverly, Virginia. A jury found them not guilty, yet through a rare legal maneuver, a judge sentenced them to life in prison anyway. Their only crime was being young Black men in a system that too often values punishment over truth.

For more than two decades, Terrence and Ferrone lived behind bars while families, advocates, and organizations like I_am_HUMAN and Life After Justice refused to give up. We lobbied the Department of Justice, pressed Senators, and carried their story to the White House. We fought because their story is not just about two men. It is about a system that can strip away innocence and silence lives.

In 2025, the fight was finally won. Thanks to relentless advocacy and a presidential commutation, Terrence and Ferrone walked free. Terrence stepped back into the world after decades lost, and just weeks later Ferrone joined him, reunited with his co-defendant, brother in resilience, and fellow survivor of a broken system.

Their freedom is a victory, but it is also a reminder. Years of life were stolen. Families were torn apart. Justice was delayed. The story of the Waverly Two proves why we must keep fighting: because wrongful convictions are not statistics, they are human beings whose dignity and freedom matter.

We celebrate their freedom. We do not forget the years lost. This is why we fight.