This sad news is from David Love, the Executive Director of Witness to Innocence:
It is with extreme sorrow that I announce the passing of Delbert Tibbs, our beloved member and friend, assistant director of membership and training at Witness to Innocence, and death row exoneree #11. Delbert died last night in his home in Chicago. He was a sage, a poet, a leader and the nicest person you could ever meet, with an intellect, a spirit and a commitment that inspired all of us. It was an honor to know this peacemaker, and to learn from him.
This is a tremendous loss for us, at WTI and throughout the abolition movement, and surely in the coming days we will continue to reflect on what Delbert meant to us, and find ways to memorialize his name.
More on Delbert Tibbs is available from Wikipedia, and from the archives of the Chicago Tribune.
It was my honor and delight to have had for the last several years an extended e-mail conversation with Delbert, and I own several of his books of poetry and writings. His story was featured in the play, "The Exonerated," written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen. It was the words of Delbert Tibb's that anchored the play; his words that began and concluded the play.
May his name live in blessed memory.
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