The Savory Files Innocence Tour
30 Years Taken. Truth Still Standing.
Johnnie Lee Savory was wrongfully imprisoned for over 30 years.
This tour brings his story to communities across the country—demanding awareness, accountability, and change.
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BEYOND
INNOCENCE ...
ON THE ROAD TO JUSTICE
"Join us in our mission as we travel across the United States, advocating for those who have, at long last, been released from wrongful imprisonment.
For these men and women, proving their innocence is only the beginning. While freedom has been restored, the path to true justice is far from over.
Their journey continues—and so does the fight."
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— Johnnie Lee Savory
2017
THE SAVORY FILES INNOCENCE TOUR JULY 25TH, 2026
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THE ISSUES THE SAVORY INNOCENCE TOUR IS ADDRESSING
We’re taking to the road to highlight cases of men, women—and yes, even children—who have been wrongfully imprisoned.
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Our mission is to share their stories and advocate for true justice on their behalf.
We will not stop until the law community, legislators, social services, law enforcement, students, and the general public are all engaged in recognizing and correcting the wrongs these innocent victims have endured.
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This is more than awareness. This is accountability.
The Causes
We look to put an end to all the reasons the innocent are incarcerated...ineffective counsel, false testimony, police and prosecutorial misconduct, witness misidentification, false confessions, and evidence suppression,
including DNA evidence and more.
The Compensation
Since 1989, over 2000 innocent people have been released from incarceration. At an average of 11 years each, that's 22,000 years that have been stolen from their lives. How do you compensate someone for a loss of years and relationships that goes beyond dollars and cents? READ MORE
The Support
When the guilty get out of prison, State and Federal assistance awaits them, to help them adjust to freedom. The innocent —they're on their own. We're advocating for affordable housing, education—from basic literacy on up, job training, job hunting assistance READ MORE
2026
8
3
100,000
Innaugural Innocence Tour
Tour Stops
Planned For 2024
Innocent People Are Released Each Week
Estimated Innocents Incarcerated
THE SAVORY INNOCENCE TOUR 2026
NEWS AND UPDATES
Check back here regularly for News and Updates on the Inaugural Innocence Tour scheduled to launch July 25th, 2026. In Chicago, Illinois.
Since 1989, over 3,299 wrongfully incarcerated individuals in the U.S. have had their convictions overturned and have been released from prison. I am one of those people.
My fight to achieve justice has been long and tough. Since that January day in 1977 when, at age 14, I was taken from my school, thrown into prison and charged with murder and rape, I have fought for justice. Years after being proved innocent through DNA testing, and being pardoned by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, I am still fighting. At my side is a team of excellent, dedicated lawyers from The Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University, the Innocence Project, and Jenner & Block who have been my champions.
My own experience teaches me—every day—that innocence is just the first step to achieving justice. I still seek justice for myself AND for my innocent brothers and sisters who've had so much taken from them for so long. We can't do it alone...that 's why we're launching The Savory Innocence Tour.
Johnnie Lee Savory Photo: Chicago Tribune
