John Thompson (1962–2017) was a New Orleans native who endured 18 years of wrongful imprisonment—14 of those on death row at Louisiana's Angola Prison—for crimes he did not commit. Following his exoneration and release, Thompson became a relentless advocate for criminal justice reform. He founded Resurrection After Exoneration (RAE) at 1212 St. Bernard Ave to support exonerees in rebuilding their lives, and to expose the systemic failures of the justice system. 

In 1984, Thompson was convicted of an armed robbery and the subsequent murder of Raymond Liuzza Jr., a prominent hotel executive. His convictions were based on prosecutorial misconduct, including the suppression of exculpatory evidence. In 1999, just weeks before his scheduled execution, a private investigator uncovered a crucial blood test that had been intentionally withheld by prosecutors, proving his innocence. This led to his exoneration in 2003.

His case led to Connick v. Thompson (2011), a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling. After winning a $14 million civil judgment against the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office for its misconduct, the ruling was overturned in a 5-4 decision, with the Court determining that the office could not be held liable for failing to train prosecutors on their legal duty to turn over exculpatory evidence. The decision was widely criticized as a blow to prosecutorial accountability.

Thompson continued his advocacy, using his platform to challenge wrongful convictions, fight for prosecutorial accountability, and support others returning from incarceration. His widow, Laverne Thompson, alongside Freedom to Grow, continues to honor his legacy through the John Thompson Legacy Center, a hub for movement-building, mutual aid, and abolitionist organizing. His life and work remain a testament to the power of resilience, resistance, and the fight for justice.