[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10309]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MS. JOYCE ANN BROWN

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. MARC A. VEASEY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2015

  Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Ms. Joyce Ann Brown of Dallas, Texas. Ms. Brown was wrongly convicted 
of aggravated robbery in 1980 and unfairly served over nine years in 
prison despite her innocence. Following her release in 1989, Ms. Brown 
used her story to fight for justice for those wrongly convicted in 
Texas and around the country. Her passing on June 13, 2015 leaves a 
void in the city of Dallas and I join the Texas community in giving our 
condolences to the Brown family.
  Ms. Brown was raised in Dallas, Texas. In 1980, at the age of 33 she 
was accused of murder after a local robbery turned violent. Despite 
eyewitness testimony verifying her alibi, Ms. Brown was wrongfully 
convicted. Following her conviction, Ms. Brown refused to be a victim 
of her circumstances and fought for a dignified release.
  After numerous appeal requests went unanswered, Ms. Brown was finally 
permitted a re-trial and released on bond on November 3, 1989. After 
being incarcerated for nearly a decade for a crime she did not commit, 
she was finally able to see her charges dropped on February 14, 1990.
  Following her release, Ms. Brown served as an assistant for nine 
years to Dallas County Commissioner, John Wiley Price and later founded 
MASS, Mothers/Fathers for the Advancement of Social Systems. Ms. 
Brown's organization aimed to use her experience and passion to help 
others who were wrongfully convicted.
  Ms. Brown spent the remainder of her life advocating on the behalf of 
currently and formerly incarcerated populations with the goal of 
promoting their successful reintegration into society. Her 
autobiography Joyce Brown: Justice Denied remains as a testament to 
both the events that led to her wrongful conviction and her commitment 
to ensuring justice for all following her exoneration.
  In honor of Ms. Joyce Ann Brown, a tireless advocate for justice, 
this statement will be entered into the congressional record on 
Tuesday, June 23, 2015. She will be remembered as a leader, trailblazer 
and true public servant for the state of Texas and beyond.

                          ____________________