This Is the Story of "The Hurricane"

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a middleweight prizefighter who became a civil rights icon, died at the age of 76.

The fighter spent nearly 20 years behind bars, falsely convicted of a murder he did not commit. The controversy inspired Bob Dylan to write “Hurricane,” a song detailing the events of the crime and false arrest. For two years, the singer/songwriter opened every concert he played with the song, to raise awareness of Carter’s case.

In 1966, three Caucasians were killed during a robbery, as Ruben Carter won a chance to become the middleweight champion of the world. Before that fight could take place, Carter was taken into custody for the murders and convicted. Eight years later, two key witnesses in the case recanted their testimony. The New York Times ran a series of articles on the case, and Bob Dylan learned of the athlete’s plight. The prizefighter was re-tried, and re-convicted, in 1976.

Carter was released in 1985, after evidence surfaces that racism was behind the verdicts. He became an advocate for people convicted of crimes they did not commit.

Before becoming a contender in the boxing ring, Carter was convicted of petty crimes as a young man, and spent some time behind bars. After his release, he joined the Army and learned how to box. As a fighter, his career record was 27 wins and 12 loses, with 19 knockouts, and one fight that ended in a draw.

In 1999, Denzel Washington starred in “The Hurricane,” a movie based on the events of Carter’s life.

Thom Kidrin, who became friends with the boxer during visits to prison, said Carter “didn’t have any bitterness or anger – he kind of got above it all. That was his great strength.”

The athlete and folk hero, known for his struggles inside and outside the boxing ring, lost his final fight to prostate cancer.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/sports&id=9510649

http://www.euronews.com/2014/04/20/us-boxer-and-civil-rights-hero-rubin-hurricane-carter-dies

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Rubin-Hurricane-Carter-Dies-1080668.aspx

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11241826

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2014/04/rubin-hurricane-carter-boxer-wrongly-convicted-murder-

dies-76

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303825604579513563823122686?mg=reno64-

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