Free Nanon M. Williams

Nanon McKewn Williams grew up in Los Angeles, California amid the violence and poverty that plagued the city. As a teenager, Nanon stood out for his academic and sporting achievements and dreamed of a career as a football player. He was an All-American and a recipient of more than 17 athletic scholarships. In 1992, when Nanon was only 17 years old, he was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death by the state of Texas.
As a young man on death row, Nanon discovered a passion for writing and committed his life to bring a voice for those silenced. Although he began his imprisonment as an angry teenager, prone to fight any and everything, Nanon spent over a decade in complete solitary confinement rising above the ashes of dead men. He began writing poems, which he published in 2000 under the title The Ties That Bind Us and continued to write numerous essays as well as several other books. With his autobiography, Sill Surviving, his words exploded across the country and Nanon suddenly found himself further punished for daring to speak out against Texas Death Row, its brutal killing machine, and his awareness of mass incarceration. In fact, when he published The Darkest Hour book of death row stories and interviews, those who supported Nanon feared for his life. The things Nanon endured was far worse than most people could ever imagine, yet he pushed forward relentlessly. A newsletter, The Williams Reports that Nanon created in 1997 was banned by the Texas prison system, as was some of his books.
In 2005, as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roper V. Simmons, Nanon was one of the juveniles studied that led to the nation banning execution for juveniles. His sentence was commuted to capital life. Despite Nanon enduring years in solitary confinement and mind boggling acts of punishment, although knowing over 300 men executed, somehow Nanon continued to excel. Nanon was able to complete his G.E.D in 2007. He then began college courses offered at Trinity Valley Community College. He earned his Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and Science, and also completed trades in Horticulture and Cognitive Intervention. He began tutoring other young men and inspiring them to reach higher. He led by example.
In 2009, Nanon desperately tried to pursue higher forms of education, he fought to be transferred from the biggest prison in Texas to another to attend a special program that offered a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences through the University of Houston-Clear Lake. It wasn’t surprising to anyone that Nanon graduated with high honors. He is now completing his Masters in Humanities and enrolling to pursue his Masters in Literature.
Through writing, Nanon has found a way to endure life in prison, but he has now connected with countless people around the world. One of his books has been translated, he works with many universities around the country, his story is in a play called Lyrics Form Lockdown, and he teaches classes about segregation. He is now a Certified Peer Educator for sexually transmitted diseases and he recently published The Darkest Hour: Shedding Light on the impact of isolation and Death Row in Texas Prisons with Dr. Betty Gilmore, as well as a Children’s book called Peace People co-authored by Robyn Short. Nanon continues to work on booklets that show prisoners how to get resources, the need to recreate culture and his ability to educate other juveniles. Nanon has become one of the most inspiring people in the world from the most unlikely place. Many of us push for his freedom, but we all know that somehow he has found that in ways few people can ever understand!!