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Uploaded: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 9:34 AM
TV premiere of Rick Walker story airing tonight
Case of mistaken conviction and political drama for East Palo Alto resident who wrongly spent 12 years in prison
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The national-television premiere of the documentary on the mistaken imprisonment for 12 years of Rick Walker of East Palo Alto for a murder he didn't commit will be aired at 6:30 p.m. today (Nov. 5) on PBS station KTEH, Channel 54, based in San Jose.
The documentary, "$100 a Day," tells the story of Walker's 1991 sentencing to 26 years in prison based on what was later found to be false testimony and questionable legal tactics. He was exonerated and released after 12 years in California prisons.
But his efforts to collect the $100 a day owed persons who were wrongfully imprisoned triggered a partisan battle in the California Legislature that drew then Assemblyman Joe Simitian into a showdown challenge in the early morning hours of the last night of the 2003 session.
Simitian, now a state Senator, made an impassioned and effective appeal to his colleagues to put aside partisan differences and "show 35 million Californians that we have the right stuff."
The film was produced by filmmakers Gwen Essegian and Mark Ligon working with the Palo Alto-based Midpeninsula Community Media Center. It was named "Best Documentary Short" in the 2009 Sacramento Film & Music Festival and recognized at several other film festivals.
Screenings in the Bay Area have been sponsored by the Commonwealth Club, the Innocence Project and the League of Women Voters.
Walker is the son of Myrtle Walker, a longtime community leader and former mayor of East Palo Alto. Palo Altan Carolyn Tucher, a friend of Myrtle Walker, helped bring the case of false imprisonment to light.
The Palo Alto Weekly ran a cover story detailing the Walker drama on Oct. 10, 2008.-- Palo Alto Weekly staff
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Posted by Conerned Citizen, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2009 at 11:40 am I am so happy that you chose to alert us to this program. The reason I chose the "crime" category is that it was a "crime" that this gentleman was locked up for a crime that he did not commit. I will record this program for future viewing.
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Posted by Carroll Harrington, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2009 at 12:08 pm I saw this video at a special showing and converation with State Senator Simitian and Rick Walker. It is outstanding, and shows the importance of politicians working together for the common good (a term we are struggling to define in Palo Alto)!
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Posted by Mayfield Child, a resident of the Green Acres neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2009 at 8:08 pm Still looking for the correct words regarding the utmost of praise for Senator Simitian, who took on the bold commitment of Rick Walkers horrible delimma.
It's great to know that there are still some politicians alive today that really believe in righting a wrong - not just trying to hustle onto the next agenda....Simitian has a great track record, I have admired his political positions for years.
Is it too early to sign up for Simitian for President?
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Posted by Cynthia Davis, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Nov 8, 2009 at 6:41 pm I met Rick, he certaintly doesn't seem like someone who could commit such a crime. The money he received doesn't compare to the 12 years he lost in that hell-hole. I spent a couple of days at one of his homes in Clear Lake, his story was also featured on Oprah's new show called "Captured" earlier in the year on the Oxygen channel.
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Posted by Personal Friend, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Nov 9, 2009 at 6:20 pm He was no angel.
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Posted by Cynthia Davis, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Nov 17, 2009 at 1:09 am I didn't know him then, but from what I've known since his release. He seemed to have turned into a "superior" person, has something negative to say about most "people" that look like him. Money does change people, reading a lot of comments throughout this site proves it for me!
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Posted by Cynthia Davis, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Nov 17, 2009 at 1:10 am I forgot to mention, I'm sure you're no angel either. I haven't seen anyone walking around with any wings on at least. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
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