Dallas Morning News - Groups to Honor Dallas Woman Who Was Wrongly Convicted
11/3/1999

Ten years ago Wednesday, Dallas resident Joyce Ann Brown was released after spending years in prison for a crime she did not commit.

Ms. Brown will celebrate her freedom Wednesday at a fund-raiser for her nonprofit organization, MASS Inc., or Mothers (Fathers) for the Advancement of Social Systems, which helps others who have been wrongly convicted.

MASS and other organizations that help the falsely accused will pay tribute to Ms. Brown.

"She's a great lady," MASS spokeswoman Doris Marquez said. She has helped hundreds of people you wouldn't believe how much mail we get every day.

Ms. Brown served nine years, five months and 24 days after being falsely convicted of taking part in a fur coat robbery in which a man was killed. She was released Nov. 3, 1989, after a team of lawyers finally proved it was a case of mistaken identity.

After her release, she wrote a book about her experiences and began working with many individuals and organizations, including lawyer Johnny Cochran and actress-comedian Phyllis Yvonne Stickney. Ms. Stickney and comedian Dick Gregory will perform at Wednesday's event.

National attention was drawn to Ms. Brown's case after Dallas Morning News staff writers Steve Blow and Steve McGonigle chronicled her story. The popular television news show 60 Minutes also had aired Ms. Brown's plight.

The event will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 300 Reunion Blvd. In Dallas. Tickets for the banquet are $50. For more information, call 214.421.0303.