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John Klene

@johnklene_free

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Wrongfully Convicted | 23+ Years
Exonerated • Freed 2/19/21
🎤 Speaker | Hope • Resilience • Perseverance
⬇️ My Story & Journey to Freedom

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On this day, August 14th in 1997, I was arrested and wrongfully accused of murder. I didn’t realize that day how much my life would change forever. Thinking it was a mistake and I would get released… I waited for next court date after next court date, and it never happened. It took 24 years for that day to happen. To prove my innocence and get my life and freedom back. It was a long, difficult fight that thankfully I didn’t have to do alone. No matter how long I’m out or how great I feel or how well I’m doing, I can never forget the day I went to hell. It reminds me of how short life is and how you have to enjoy every moment of it, no matter what the day brings.

#lifewithoutparole #lwop #prison #wrongfullyconvicted #wrongfulconviction #innocencematters #free #injustice #fight #life #mugshot #mugshots #jail #losangeles by @johnklene_free

Back to back ring ceremonies… can we 3peat??

#dodgers #la #champs by @johnklene_free

#free #innocencematters #wrongfulconviction by @johnklene_free

Today, I had the honor and privilege of speaking with students and faculty at El Camino College, sharing my personal journey through a wrongful conviction, nearly 24 years of incarceration, and my unwavering belief in hope, perseverance, and never giving up.

This experience was especially meaningful because El Camino is where my own college journey began nearly 30 years ago. Returning to the very place where I once sat as a student, this time to share my story, was truly a full-circle moment.

I’m incredibly grateful for the warm welcome, the thoughtful questions, and the opportunity to connect with everyone who attended.

A special thank you to Kate McLaughlin, the Social Justice Center, the Student Journalism Club, and the FIRST program for making this event possible.
@sanpedrosourdough @ecc_studentjournalismclub @ecc_sjc @firstecc

No matter how difficult the circumstances, never lose hope.

#ElCaminoCollege #WrongfulConviction #Hope #Resilience #Perseverance by @johnklene_free

Ran into one of my favorite fighters and one of the best to ever do it! The champ @alexvolkanovski

#ufc by @johnklene_free

Amazing performances tonight by @adrienbrody @tessamaethompson and the whole cast in @fearof13broadway telling the story about my friend and fellow exoneree @nickyarris
Not enough words to describe how great it was, all I can say is go see it! 👏🏻
#broadway #fearof13 by @johnklene_free

5 years ago today, my wrongful conviction was finally overturned and I was completely exonerated for a crime I didn’t commit. With a Life Without the Possibility of Parole sentence, I had zero chance of ever coming home. No board dates, no time off for good behavior, no chance. The only thing I had was HOPE. Hope that someday, somehow I would prove that I was innocent and wasn’t supposed to be there. After court that morning, I waited anxiously all day. Such a surreal moment it felt like a dream. A truly out of body experience. 24 years in prison and I was finally coming home. It’s been a crazy 5 years. I’ve done so many things, been all over the world and I’ve loved every minute of it! Time is flying, going way too fast, but I’m doing my best to slow it down. Thank you to everyone that’s been a part of my journey both in and out. I don’t need to name names you know who you are! 🍻 🥂
#wrongfulconviction #LWOP #exonerated #freedom by @johnklene_free

Hopefully we have better luck today @jokoy #worldseries by @johnklene_free

So much to do in so little time.. Mexico City was amazing. It would take a long time to experience everything there.. we didn’t do bad only having a few days. Definitely need to make it back again soon…

#cdmx #mexicocity #travel #food #beautifuldestinations by @johnklene_free

Chicago dump…. Definitely not… what a beautiful city. Innocence Network was amazing. Lots of hard work put into it. Thanks to everyone who had a part in making it happen.

#innocencenetworkconference #innocencenetwork #innocencematters #chicago #chitown by @johnklene_free

#Ye by @johnklene_free

He’s here….. Edwin Diaz…. Trumpets blazin

#diaz #trumpets #closer #dodgers by @johnklene_free