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Genarlow Wilson In The Media

It all started with a feature story in Atlanta magazine...

In 2006 at the age of 17, honor roll student and student-athlete Genarlow Wilson found himself abruptly kicked out of his high school, branded a sexual predator and incarcerated with a 10-year prison sentence due to immature decisions he made at a New Year's Eve party and a Georgia law that he'd never even heard of. His case drew little attention from mainstream media, then seemingly overnight, he became a household name with his case being covered in all of the top news outlets in the country and the world. It all started with the first in-depth feature story on his case, featured in the January 2006 issue of Atlanta magazine. And the rest, as they say, is history. Check out that award-winning feature story and some of the countless media accounts of his case in the three sections below.

Broadcast/Multimedia Coverage

WAOK Radio Podcast •

Making Of A Mayor Series: Life for Genarlow Wilson

Dr. Rashad Richey is joined today by Genarlow Wilson. Wilson was unjustly imprisoned for aggravated molestation at age 17 for engaging in oral sex with a 15 year old until it was later appealed. Rashad talks to him about the hardships he's faced and about his life as a 35 year old. Listen to the full interview below. The #RRMS can be heard Mon - Fri from 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. Listen through News & Talk 1380-WAOK, V-103FM (HD3) www.WAOK.com or download the Audacy App from www.Audacy.com.
...While Black Podcast •

High School Sex - The High Cost of A 2 Year Age Gap w/Genarlow Wilson

PARENTS OF YOUNG BLACK MEN AND WOMEN PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ONE While Black sat down with Mr. Genarlow Wilson who several years ago was charged with kidnapping, rape, aggravated sodomy, and convicted of aggravated child molestation after a consensual sexual act occurred at a New Years Eve Party. He was a 17 year old high school student and she was a 15 year old classmate. Today Genarlow is out of prison, a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta GA, and giving back so that our children d
The Associated Press •

The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that Genarlow Wilson's 10-year prison sentence for hav

(26 Oct 2007) HEADLINE:Genarlow Wilson freed CAPTION: A former high school football star given 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with a teenage girl was freed by Georgia's highest court after serving two years behind bars. (Oct. 26) [Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] FORSYTH, Ga. - (TRACK) ((SUPER: Forsyth, Ga.)) ((VO of man walking from prison.)) GENARLOW WILSON THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE JUST ANOTHER DAY BEHIND BARS. ANOTHER DAY SERVING A TEN YEAR SENTENCE FOR ENGAGING IN CONSENSUAL ORAL SEX AS A 17-YEAR-OLD WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL. ((SOT)) ((SUPER: Genarlow Wilson/Former Prisoner)) "Someone actually told me they heard it on the radio, but I was in total disbelief." ((TRACK)) ((VO of man, prison)) THIS WOULD BE NO ORDINARY DAY FOR WILSON. EARLY FRIDAY MORNING, THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT RELEASED A FOUR-TO-THREE RULING FREEING WILSON, CALLING HIS SENTENCE 'CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.' ((SOT)) ((Wilson)) "It felt unreal until I signed the papers that let me know I was leaving." ((TRACK)) ((VO of group arriving)) HIS MOTHER, SISTER AND LAWYER ARRIVED AT THE PRISON FOR A BRIEF REUNION WITH WILSON INSIDE. MINUTES LATER, HE EMERGED A FREE MAN. ((SOT)) ((Juannessa Bennett/Wilson's Mother)) "It came completely out of the blue. We had no idea this was going to come down today." ((SOT)) ((Wilson)) "It's just a whole new beginning. It's like I got fresh life now." ((SOT)) ((BJ Bernstein/Wilson's Lawyer)) "I just know I've been driving around with these clothes in my car a lot of months, and I'm glad they're finally on him." ((TRACK)) ((VO of man.)) WILSON TOLD REPORTERS HE WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE AND MAJOR IN SOCIOLOGY. HE ALSO PLANS TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCE - AND A POWERFUL MESSAGE - WITH OTHER TEENS. ((SOT)) "We made decisions that I felt like could have been better, but I felt like we've all learned from that experience." ((TRACK)) ((VO of man leaving.)) WILSON SERVED MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN PRISON. NOW, THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STAR WHO SAW A BRIGHT FUTURE DISAPPEAR, GETS TO MAKE A NEW START. JB, THE A-P, FORSYTH, GEORGIA. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7759b1821d701f9560b29b20dd8169d8
Democracy Now! •

10 Years in Prison for Consensual Sex: Genarlow Wilson’s Mother Speaks Out on Why Her Son Remains Locked Up

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. AMY GOODMAN: We turn to another Georgia prison case that’s attracting national attention. Genarlow Wilson, now 21 years old, African American, he’s serving a 10-year prison sentence for having consensual oral sex when he was a teenager. He was 17 years old at the time. The girl was 15 years old when the sexual encounter took place. Wilson was convicted of felony aggravated child molestation. He has already spent more than two years b
Free Genarlow March •

NATEPERKINS TV SHOW: with Thousand March To FREE Genarlow Wilson

PART TWO: Genarlow Wilson March NATEPERKINS TV SHOW: with Thousand March To FREE Mr. Genarlow Wilson From Douglas County Prison, Outside of Atlanta, GA...watch doucmentary film by eMail Video-Talk Fusion DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. -- Approximately 1,000 people marched in support of Genarlow Wilson Saturday in Douglasville. Wilson is serving a 10-year prison sentence for having consensual sex with a 17-year-old girl. The march began at Douglas County High School, where Wilson was a star athlete before his arrest. It ended at the Douglas County Courthouse. March Held In Support Of Genarlow WilsonCBS 46, GA - Jul 14, 2007Wilson is serving a 10-year prison sentence for having consensual sex with a 17-year-old girl. The march began at Douglas County High School, where Wilson ...» Hundreds March for Genarlow Wilson WXIA-TVGenarlow Wilson Prosecutor Distributes Child Porn Liberty PapersProsecutor Under Fire in Teen Sex Case ForbesAOL News Newsbloggers - AHNall 84 news articles »US Attorney: Distributing Genarlow Wilson tape violates lawAtlanta Journal Constitution, USA - Jul 11, 2007US Attorney David Nahmias said in a statement that federal law prohibits the distribution of the Genarlow Wilson videotape because it depicts minors engaged ...A fresh perspective, bigger fish to fry - Johnny JacksonNews-Daily.com, GA - 1 hour ago... of Willie O. “Pete” Williams, who was wrongly accused and imprisoned for rape, and Genarlow Wilson, who was questionably convicted of child molestation. ...State Supreme Court moves up Genarlow Wilson hearingAtlanta Journal Constitution, USA - Jul 9, 2007A hearing is now set in Genarlow Wilson's case for July 20 at 10 am In voting today, the court reversed an earlier decision to deny a speedier process, ...Feds Warn Genarlow Wilson Tape Is Child PornWSBtv.com, GA - Jul 12, 2007US Attorney David Nahmias said yesterday that the videotape depicting Genarlow Wilson "constitutes child pornography under federal law" and should not be ...Genarlow, make this wise choiceAtlanta Journal Constitution, USA - Jul 11, 2007So Genarlow Wilson — Georgia's most famous prison inmate of the hour — probably doesn't need any fatherly advice from me. But here it is anyway: Get out of ...BETGenarlow WilsonBET, DC - Jul 11, 2007Officials speed up the hearing that could free Genarlow Wilson. And Rev. Al Sharpton schedules another march for Saturday. A judge denies Genarlow Wilson ...Genarlow Wilson Tape: Curiouser and curiouserHULIQ, NC - Jul 11, 2007The Georgia Supreme Court will hear Thurbert Baker's appeal in the Genarlow Wilson case next week, rather than this October. A letter that Jones delivered ...Genarlow Wilson Genarlow WilsonFOX News - Jul 5, 2007Standing on the steps of the Douglas County Courthouse, the Reverend Al Sharpton embraced the mother and sister of Genarlow Wilson Thursday as he joined ...For more information go to http://www.nateperkins@bellsouth.netTo Request a FREE eVideo Copy of Mr. Genarlow Wilson, please email: nateperkins@bellsouth.net or write to: Nate Perkins Enterprises, LLC 285 Centennial Olympic Park drive Suite #2302 Atlanta, GA 30313Watching Nate Perkins Live: IPTV
Free Genarlow March •

Nate Perkins Live: with Thousand March To FREE Mr. Genarlow Wilson From Douglas County Prison, Outsi : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming

 PART THREE:Nate Perkins Live: with Thousand March To FREE Mr. Genarlow Wilson From Douglas County Prison, Outside of Atlanta, GA...watch doucmentary film by eMail Video-Talk Fusion Nate Perkins Live: with Thousand March To FREE Mr. Genarlow Wilson From Douglas County Prison, Outside of Atlanta, GA...watch doucmentary film by eMail Video-Talk Fusion Part One:Part Two: Nate Perkins Live: with Thousand March To FREE Mr. Genarlow Wilson From Douglas County Prison, Outside of Atlanta, GA...watch do

Print Media Coverage

The New York Times •

Genarlow Wilson

Georgia Supreme Court declines to hear appeal of Genarlow Wilson, who was convicted of child molestation for having consensual oral sex with 15-year-old girl when he was 17; he was sentenced to 10 years in prison without possibility of parole and has served two years; is fighting to get conviction moderated so he will not have to register as sex offender; case moved State Legislature to change law in March to ensure that most sex between teenagers be treated as misdemeanor, but it could not make
ESPN •

ESPN.com - E-Ticket: Outrageous Injustice

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. -- There is a cardboard box in Genarlow Wilson's old bedroom. It rests on the floor of his empty closet, near the deflated football and basketball. It's filled with things he needed in his old life. Mostly, it's overflowing with recruiting letters, from schools big and small. A "Good luck on the SAT" postcard from the coaches at Columbia. From another Ivy League college, Brown, a note from the football coach: "You have been recommended to me as one of the top scholar-athletes
CNN •

Wilson released after two years behind bars for teen sex conviction - CNN.com

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Genarlow Wilson was released from prison Friday, after spending more than two years behind bars for a teen sex conviction. "At times I dealt with adversity ... my family and myself, we finally get to deal with happiness now," Wilson said, with his mother and sister at his side. The Georgia Supreme Court earlier Friday ordered that he be released, ruling 4-3 that his sentence was cruel and unusual punishment. Wilson, 21, was convicted in 2005 of having oral sex with a
NPR •

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Tom Joyner Foundation •

Genarlow Wilson Is Thankful for Second Chance - Tom Joyner Foundation

Wilson Is Grateful to Tom Joyner Foundation Helping Him Pursue His Dreams (DALLAS – May 17) Morehouse student Genarlow Wilson says he’s thankful to have a chance to get a college education and is excited about the future. Wilson, who was scheduled to graduate on Sunday, will complete his coursework in July with a B.S. in Sociology. He is currently working on a book and is in the midst of looking for a job. “I hit a little speed bump,” said Wilson, who was released from prison in October 2007
Essence •

Genarlow Wilson To Be Released From Prison

Georgia Supreme Court on Friday ordered that Genarlow Wilson, the young Black man imprisoned for having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17, be released from prison. The Court ruled in a 4-3 decision that his sentence was cruel and unusual punishment. Wilson has spent two years behind bars. “We’re working it out right now,” Wendy Guarisco, media consultant for Wilson’s attorney, told Essence.com when asked for the date of his release. “There’s lots of paperwork and procedures
ABC News •

Outrage After Teen Gets 10 Years for Oral Sex With Girl

Feb. 7, 2006 — -- A wild New Year's Eve two years ago has landed a Georgia teen in prison for 10 years on charges of child molestation in a case that has state legislators reworking the strict law that put him behind bars. Genarlow Wilson and a group of friends had the kind of bash no parent would want their teenager to attend. Crime scene investigators combing the room in a Days Inn in the small town of Douglasville, Ga., found evidence of drinking, as well as condoms and wrappers littered all
CBS •

Georgia Man Begins Life After Prison

Genarlow Wilson, the young Georgia man who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with another teenager when he was 17, said his painful ordeal has made him stronger. "I'm just going to try to take each step very slowly because I know it's going to be hard for me to regain a lot of the ground that I've lost," Wilson told CBS' The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "But I feel like I can do it, because this situation has made me stronger. It's matured me, and it'
HBCU Sports Forums •

Genarlow Wilson to attend Morehouse College

How was this young mans grades in high school. I was listening to the Tom Joyner morning show this past week when they announced the scholarship. Lets just say he didnt sound like a "Morehouse Man" during the interview. Was he only given this scholarship because of the incident? Also when their are huge incidents of this magnitude, why does Oprah, Tom Joyner, and other celebrities look at only 4 schools. Its always Howard, Hampton, Morehouse, or Spelman. Maybe Wilson was better suited for Clark
Chicago Tribune •

Court overturns sex conviction

FORSYTH, Ga. — Genarlow Wilson -- the young man imprisoned for committing a consensual sex act who became, for many, an example of inequitable criminal justice -- was released from prison Friday after his conviction was overturned by Georgia's Supreme Court. In 2005, Wilson was convicted of aggravated child molestation for having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17. He was sentenced to 10 years with no possibility of parole, the mandatory minimum under Georgia law at the time. But
NPR •

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NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites (together, “cookies”) to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic. This information is shared with social media, sponsorship, analytics, and other vendors or service providers. See details. You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn a
ABC News •

Free Genarlow Wilson: the $1 Million Man Speaks to ABC

June 26, 2007 — -- Genarlow Wilson, a 21-year-old man from Georgia, still sits in jail today despite the fact that earlier this month a judge declaredhis 10-year felony sentence a "grave miscarriage of justice" and ordered him freed. Wilson has already served two years of his sentence for receiving consensual oral sex from a 15-year-old girl when he was17. A bond hearing is set for July 5, but Wilson's attorney B.J. Bernstein argues on a Web site she set up for Wilson that the hearing would be
CNN •

Wilson released after two years behind bars for teen sex conviction - CNN.com

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Genarlow Wilson was released from prison Friday, after spending more than two years behind bars for a teen sex conviction. "At times I dealt with adversity ... my family and myself, we finally get to deal with happiness now," Wilson said, with his mother and sister at his side. The Georgia Supreme Court earlier Friday ordered that he be released, ruling 4-3 that his sentence was cruel and unusual punishment. Wilson, 21, was convicted in 2005 of having oral sex with a
TODAY.com •

Genarlow Wilson: ‘I’m coming out a man’

Genarlow Wilson will leave the bitterness to others. For the moment, just being able to sleep in his own bed, get up in the middle of the night to raid the refrigerator and being able to be with his family is satisfaction enough. “When I got the news, I was ecstatic at just being able to finally walk out of the prison knowing that I was free and I had a new chance at life,” Wilson told TODAY co-host Meredith Vieira on Monday. It was just three days ago, after two years of public outcry over th
Statesboro Herald •

Sharpton, Lowery, others hold vigil for Genarlow Wilson

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — Standing on the steps of the Douglas County Courthouse, the Rev. Al Sharpton embraced the mother and sister of Genarlow Wilson, joining hundreds of supporters Thursday in continuing to demand Wilson’s immediate release from prison. Joined by clergy and civil rights activists, Sharpton said Wilson’s case — a 10-year prison sentence for receiving oral sex while a teen from a 15-year-old — is a national one. ‘‘This boy is not only her son, he’s your son, he’s my son,’’ Sharp
Democracy Now! •

10 Years in Prison for Consensual Sex: Genarlow Wilson’s Mother Speaks Out on Why Her Son Remains Locked Up

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. AMY GOODMAN: We turn to another Georgia prison case that’s attracting national attention. Genarlow Wilson, now 21 years old, African American, he’s serving a 10-year prison sentence for having consensual oral sex when he was a teenager. He was 17 years old at the time. The girl was 15 years old when the sexual encounter took place. Wilson was convicted of felony aggravated child molestation. He has already spent more than two years b
Reuters •

Court frees U.S. teen jailed 10 years for oral sex

ATLANTA (Reuters) - A Georgia man sentenced to 10 years in jail without parole for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17 walked free on Friday after the state’s top court ordered his early release. Genarlow Wilson was greeted by his family as he left the Burruss Correctional Training Facility in Monroe County, Georgia, after serving two years, eight months in jail in a case that sparked a national campaign on his behalf. “I was pretty confused for the most part (in
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Featured Articles

Check out these featured articles by journalist Chandra Thomas Whitfield that provide insight into Genarlow's case and his life after prison.

Medium •

The Reality Of Reentry - Medium Writers Challenge Honoree

Even With A Famous Case And A College Degree, Life After Prison Has Been A Rough Road For Genarlow Wilson. He’s Far From Alone. By Genarlow Wilson As Told To Chandra Thomas Whitfield It seemed like a fairy tale come true. Or a TV movie, one. The Black kid who many argued had been wrongly prosecuted and over sentenced by a deeply discriminatory criminal injustice system, abruptly released from a Georgia prison. The handcuffs, the shackles that had been his life for the past four years, now remo

"My goal is to do everything in my power to let the youth of today know and understand that if the make the wrong choices and break the law IGNORANCE WILL BE NO DEFENSE!" - Genarlow Wilson

He's got a powerful story to tell. Book Genarlow Wilson TODAY for your in-person or virtual event!

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