The American Justice Project: Voices rang out in glorious song to celebrate the work done by AJP at the May 25th Tenor of Justice concert
05/29/25
BY ANNE GOSHDIGIAN
You may have read about Hartford resident Christopher Dukes here in the Hartford News, a story I covered several times over the past 3 years. In 2018, Chris was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, which opened the doorway to a hell that turned his life upside down for the next 6 years; incarceration, ankle monitor, loss of job and income, loss of access to his children, and many more traumatic effects. After several court dates, in May 2024 the State Supreme Court exonerated him of all the charges against him, and ordered that he be reinstated to his position at CCSU, receive back pay from those 6 years, his benefits restored, and his employment record wiped clean. It was a long-awaited and well-deserved victory, but it does not erase the emotional, physical, and mental stress of his ordeal that he suffered.
Justice has been served for Chris Dukes, but only a partial justice. And that is when Dukes became a co-founder of the American Justice Project, a “ community-led non-profit organization bringing solutions to wrongful convictions, mass incarceration, and abuse of power. We partner with organizations and communities to demand transparency and accountability wherever decision-makers infringe the Constitutional rights of individuals and family.” His strong dedication to this work, his mission, is a major factor in his healing process.
As this week marked the one-year anniversary of his Supreme Court decision, Chris and AJP members carried through with their plan to put on a concert featuring several singing groups and soloists titled The Tenor of Justice: Voices Abound, at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield. Interspersed with the performances were several speakers, including Chris who brought up the issues of wrongful convictions, and the chokehold and its effects. Emcees for the event were Stan and Nyesha McCauley and did a wonderful job. The church was completely packed with attendees who, like myself were brought to tears at times, and joy, smiles, laughter , applause, and standing ovations at others. All of the singers were outstanding, especially soloists Carrie Wilson, Patricia Gray, and Chris Dukes. A performance by The Harmonizers, a large group of singers from the North End Senior Center under the direction of Wayne Dixon, was very moving. Also on the event program were awards presented to those named “Guardians of Justice” by the AJP for their work in shining a light on injustice. (I was very honored to be the recipient of an award for journalism). I invited Christopher Dukes to have the last word in this story.
Chris Dukes: After Seven Years of Injustice
The effects of the injustices, including swatting, wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, loss of custody, wrongful termination/whistleblower retaliation by CCSU, etc. remain largely because partial justice is all that has been granted thus far. The sex offender and the President to whom I blew the whistle on remain protected by some of the highest-ranking officials in our local government. The employee who raped a female student was promoted, his contract renewed, and tenure status awarded all after CCSU learned of his violence against a community member. Therefore, CCSU (for decades away from home), remains a hostile environment; which is why I have been on administrative leave since last year’s CT Supreme Court victory.
The Tenor of Justice: Voices Unbound is a living example of how one must work beyond their own battles of injustice to help others - turning our pain into purpose. Every musical selection and spoken word was strategically designed to maximize our efforts to inform the public about our End the Chokehold campaign and touch the hearts and souls of the audience with amazing music. Make Them Hear You has become my personal anthem, encouraging others to become the peacemakers we were created to be. I am overjoyed to be anointed as a vessel of God the Almighty to take this testimony from the stage of sorrow to the heights of glory.
To learn more about the American Justice Project please go to https://www.americanjusticeproject.org/news_events