After being wrongfully convicted for murder at the young age of 19 in Pitt County, NC, and serving 26 years in prison for a crime that he did not commit, Dontae Sharpe is finally out of prison. Because he was exonerated, but not pardoned, Dontae still faces barriers that have made it difficult for him and his family to build a life after nearly three decades of stolen time by the State of North Carolina. Governor Cooper has the power to completely erase the wrongful conviction from Dontae’s record. Tell Governor Cooper to pardon Dontae Sharpe.

The racist criminal punishment system in North Carolina stole Dontae’s young adulthood and, without a pardon, it is positioned to punish Dontae for the rest of his life. Governor Cooper can address the ways the state of North Carolina has failed Dontae and his family, or he can continue to do nothing. Demand that Governor Cooper do the right thing and issue a full pardon for Dontae Sharpe. 

Here is the Petition:

Dear Governor Roy Cooper:

After over 25 years of wrongful incarceration and prosecutors admitting that they "don't have the evidence," Dontae Sharpe has finally been returned to his family and community. Now that Dontae is free, he needs the opportunity establish a life for himself. But, he's not going to be able to do that as long as he has a criminal record.

We urge you to begin to address the harm enacted upon Dontae by Pitt County and the state of North Carolina by issuing a full pardon immediately.