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RUBIN "HURRICANE" CARTER

WINDS OF JUSTICE: The saga and freedom of Rubin Carter and John Artis

"There is no bitterness. If I was bitter, that would mean they won."
- Rubin "Hurricane" Carter

Rubin Carter was born on May 6, 1937, in Clifton, New Jersey. In 1966, at the height of his professional middleweight boxing career, Carter, and another man, John Artis, were twice wrongfully convicted of a triple murder and imprisoned for nearly two decades. During the mid-1970s, the case became a cause celébrè for a number of civil rights leaders, politicians and entertainers. Ultimately, they were exonerated in 1985. 

Turning pro in 1961, Carter's aggressive style and punching power (resulting in many early-round knockouts) drew attention, establishing him as a crowd favorite and earning him the nickname "Hurricane." 

Carter was training for his next shot at the world middleweight title in October 1966 when he was arrested for the June 17 triple murder of three patrons at the Lafayette Bar & Grill in Paterson. Carter and John Artis had been arrested on the night of the crime because they fit an eyewitness description of the killers, but they had been cleared by a grand jury when the one surviving victim failed to identify them as the gunmen.

On June 29, 1967, Carter and Artis were convicted of triple murder and sentenced to three life prison terms.

While incarcerated at Trenton State and Rahway State prisons, Carter continued to maintain his innocence by defying the authority of the prison guards, refusing to wear an inmate's uniform, and becoming a recluse in his cell. He read and studied extensively, and in 1974 published his autobiography.

The story of his plight attracted the attention and support of many luminaries, including Bob Dylan, who visited Carter in prison, wrote the song "Hurricane." Prizefighter Muhammad Ali also joined the fight to free Carter, along with leading figures in liberal politics, civil rights and entertainment.

Upon his release, Carter moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, into the home of the group that had worked to free him. He worked on a book, 'Lazarus and the Hurricane: The Untold Story of the Freeing of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter', published in 1991. The former prizefighter, who was given an honorary championship title belt in 1993 by the World Boxing Council, now serves as director of the Association in Defense of the Wrongfully Convicted, headquartered in his house in Toronto. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta and the Alliance for Prison Justice in Boston.

In 1999, widespread interest in the story of Rubin Carter was revived with a major motion picture, 'The Hurricane,' directed by Norman Jewison and starring Denzel Washington. 

About Our Collection:

From an exclusive in person signing, JG Autographs Inc., is proud to offer an array of signed items by the boxing icon including gloves, photography, original, exclusive artwork, baseballs and more. Certain selections are also hand signed by fellow accused and long time friend John Artis. All items have been signed in person, exclusively for JG Autographs by Carter and Artis.

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