Stitching Freedom - by Gary Tyler (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and to the idea that people can endure great hardship without being hardened by it." --The Progressive

"What's most moving about this extraordinary book isn't Gary Tyler's innocence, but his resilience and steadfast commitment to justice for all in a system designed to oppress, divide and destroy." --Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow

In the tradition of books by Albert Woodfox and Angela Davis, this gripping memoir of a wrongful conviction and time spent on death row in Angola prison shows how incarcerated people care for each other and fight for justice.

In 1975, seventeen-year-old Gary Tyler was sent to Angola prison to die. A year earlier, he had been wrongfully charged with the killing of a white teenager and found guilty by an all-white jury, making Gary the youngest prisoner on death row in the United States

Following his conviction, Amnesty International and investigative reporters documented the brutal treatment, fabricated evidence, recanted testimony, and repeated injustices that led to his sentencing. Three times Gary was recommended for a pardon; three times Louisiana governors refused to accept the political risk. After more than four decades in prison, Tyler was released in 2016--but he was never exonerated.

This is not a story of mistaken identity or circumstantial evidence, but one of systemic injustice from an institution hard-wired into a legacy of slavery--in effect, this was a legal lynching. While detailing the injustice, Gary's memoir is also a remarkable story of pride, forgiveness, community, and triumph. With insight and heart, he shows how he learned to reject bitterness and fight for freedom, helped by activists such as Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace on the inside and relentless support from a mass movement on the outside. Stitching Freedom is the page-turning narrative with which Gary reclaims his power.

Review Quotes

"Stitching Freedom is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and to the idea that people can endure great hardship without being hardened by it. This is a moment of unparalleled peril to the nation's democratic institutions as well as to its aspirations of being a beacon of liberty. There will be many battles. Some will lead to victories, some to defeats. And there will be people like Gary Tyler, who will find reasons to fight these battles with courage, purpose, and even joy in their hearts."
--The Progressive

"A riveting memoir of Tyler's survival under harrowing conditions.... His powerful story is one of an undeniable inner strength and a willingness to speak out against injustice."
--Philip Zozzaro, Booklist [starred review]

"Tyler infuses this devastating memoir with hope and passion, deftly using his story to shine a light on the racism embedded in the American prison system. Although he does not shy away from the horrific details of being sentenced to death as a teenager, he also refuses to be seen as a victim, taking control of his narrative through trenchant analysis and self-reflection."
--Kirkus Reviews

"What's most moving about this extraordinary book isn't Gary Tyler's innocence, but his resilience and steadfast commitment to justice for all in a system designed to oppress, divide and destroy. He came to understand that system and transcend it because of the loving support and education from people in maximum security who'd been labeled the 'worst of the worst.' In the drama club and throughout his time at Angola, Gary Tyler exemplified the club's motto, 'We are the Willing' - becoming a man willing to provide care, fight injustice and create beauty. Now he's willing to tell the truth about what happened and why, to magnify defiance and hope."
--Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow

"People have always wondered why Gary Tyler didn't become criminal, bitter, or insane. This riveting book shows why. He refused to let the system take his life, his spirit, his intelligence, his humanity. I watched Gary find mentors and then become one to many inmates. He became an actor, playwright, and director. He turned fabric into art. He eased the passage of dying men. He let nothing deter his march to justice, to freedom - and we are all the beneficiaries."
--Wilbert Rideau, former editor of The Angolite, award-winning author of In the Place of Justice

"In my life I have had the opportunity to speak up for five men who were wrongfully convicted and watch them walk out of prison. In each case, they have taught me something about what freedom means. Gary Tyler's account of his own experience is another lesson in freedom--one we sorely need in this moment."
--Rev. William J. Barber, II, author of White Poverty

"Gary Tyler's story is a powerful testament to resilience and the transformative power of community and story telling."
--Cyntoia Brown Long, author of Free Cyntoia

"Stitching Freedom is both compelling and incisive in its ability to bring the reader in real close. This is not only a story of great courage and humility, but of an unparalleled patience fueled by a fiery zeal to NOT BE BROKEN by the conditions of institutional injustice. Gary Tyler had to live with his certain innocence and his commitment to freedom, methodically, one day at a time... for 15,180 days. His resilience is contagious."
--Kate Capshaw, Artist and co-founder of the Hearthland Foundation

"Something in Gary Tyler's nature led him to become a man described by his attorney as 'a remarkable human being' who not only endured the torture and horror of a hell-hole designed to destroy human beings deemed 'lesser, ' but become a leader, a teacher, an artist, a man who was escorted to Angola's gate at discharge by the warden who said goodbye 'with tears in his eyes.' Stitching Freedom imbues one with hope for the human race."
--Mike Farrell, "BJ" from "M*A*S*H" and author of Just Call Me Mike

"As moving and important a book as I have read in eons. Tyler's struggle to hold onto his humanity and emerge battered but triumphant is a powerful story unto itself, but that's not why people should read this book. Tyler's journey urgently matters given the ways that dehumanizing prisoners and debasing constitutional due process have become a central feature of US politics. His story acts as a bracing condemnation of an administration off the rails; an administration that regularly mocks and debases those trapped in a deeply racist prison industrial complex. Tyler and his co-author Ellen Bravo have gifted us all a chance to look in the mirror. May we be brave enough to open our eyes."
--Dave Zirin, author of The Kaepernick Effect

"Some people do become extraordinary beings, but we are rarely witness to this alchemy. In Stitching Freedom Gary Tyler has offered us a record of such an evolution of consciousness. Having suffered monstrous cruelty, he has emerged as an astute and resilient person of deep empathy and creativity. His story is devastating but ultimately triumphant. And we are so fortunate that he has chosen to share it with us."
--Carol Becker, Dean Emerita of the Columbia School of Arts and author of George's Daughter

"Despite decades of wrongful incarceration, Gary found strength and hope. Stitching Freedom is a powerful testament to his resilience, unwavering spirit, and his fight for justice. Gary's story reminds us that the human spirit can persevere even when facing the worst. This book is a crucial part of the ongoing conversation about changing our criminal justice system."
--Norris Henderson, Executive Director, VOTE (Voice of the Experienced)

"Stitching Freedom arrives as a timely and heartfelt gift, offering strength and inspiration amid turbulent times. An anchor of hope and courage, Gary Tyler's story is not just one of injustice but a powerful testament to love, kindness, and the resilience of the human spirit. It demonstrates that truth and justice will ultimately prevail because even in darkness, the light always shines through."
--Jennifer Wu-Schwab, host of The Founder Spirit

About the Author

Gary Tyler is an artist and a spokesperson for justice. During his years in prison, Tyler galvanized a movement that grew to have national and international support, one of the precursors to today's abolition and Black Lives Matter movements. He was recently named a 2026 Galaxy Gives Leader Fellow and awarded the 2024 Frieze LA Impact Prize, which recognizes artists who use their talents and abilities to address social justice issues. Stitching Freedom is his first book.

Ellen Bravo's connection to Gary Tyler began in July 1976, when she marched with two thousand others in New Orleans demanding his freedom. A long-time activist, Bravo has written three nonfiction books about working women and two novels, Again and Again and Standing Up. Among Bravo's commendations is the Ford Foundation's Visionary Award.