Lesra Martin facts for kids

Lesra Martin (born April 11, 1963) is an American-Canadian lawyer, motivational speaker, and writer. He is well-known for helping to free former boxer Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter.

Who is Lesra Martin?

Lesra Martin was born in New York City. He grew up to become a lawyer, which is someone who helps people with legal issues. He also works as a motivational speaker, inspiring others with his story. Besides that, he is a writer.

Lesra Martin's Early Life

Lesra Martin's journey is quite inspiring. He faced challenges in his early life. When he was a teenager, he moved to Canada. There, he met a group of caring people. They helped him learn to read and write better. This support changed his life.

Helping Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter

Lesra Martin played a very important role in freeing Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter. Rubin Carter was a famous boxer. He was wrongly put in prison for a crime he did not commit. He spent almost 20 years in jail.

How Lesra Martin Got Involved

Lesra Martin learned about Rubin Carter's story by reading his book. The book was called The Sixteenth Round. After reading it, Lesra felt he had to help. In 1980, he wrote a letter to Rubin Carter, who was in prison.

Lesra then visited Rubin Carter in prison. This meeting was a turning point. Lesra shared Carter's story with the group he lived with in Toronto. This group decided to help fight for Carter's freedom.

The Fight for Freedom

Rubin Carter had been found guilty twice by juries. Many believed these trials were unfair. They thought the decisions were influenced by racism. Evidence that could have helped Carter was also kept hidden.

In 1985, a federal court looked at the case again. A judge named Haddon Lee Sarokin made an important decision. He ruled that the case was based on racism. He also said that important evidence was hidden. Because of this, Rubin Carter was finally released from prison in November 1985.

The Story in Film

The story of Rubin Carter's release, including Lesra Martin's help, was made into a movie. The film is called The Hurricane. It stars Denzel Washington as Rubin Carter. Lesra Martin was played by actor Vicellous Reon Shannon. While the movie tells an amazing story, some parts were changed for the film.

Media Appearances

Lesra Martin's inspiring story has been shared widely. He has appeared on popular TV shows. These include The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live on CNN. The National Film Board of Canada also made a film about him. It was called The Journey of Lesra Martin.