In a story that’s a whole vibe, two Black men, Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett, are finally getting some justice. In 1989, they were wrongly accused in the high-profile murder of a pregnant white woman, Carol Stuart, a case that fueled racial tensions in Boston.
Charles Stuart, the husband, spun a wild story about a Black gunman shooting them both during a carjacking. This lie led police to sweep through a Black neighborhood, causing major harm to the community. They first targeted Swanson, then cuffed Bennett, all while Stuart was pointing fingers.
But the truth? Stuart was the real villain. He orchestrated his wife’s death, shooting her as they left a birthing class. While his story unraveled, he ended up taking his own life.
Meanwhile, Swanson and Bennett were living with the fallout. The city of Boston finally did the right thing, issuing a formal apology from Mayor Michelle Wu in 2023. She said it plain and simple: “What was done to you was unjust, unfair, racist and wrong.”
Now, two years later, the city is putting its money where its mouth is. Bennett is getting a $100,000 settlement, and Swanson is receiving $50,000. It’s a reminder that while the road to justice can be long, it’s worth the fight. This is a moment of long-overdue closure, a testament to resilience, and a powerful lesson in accountability.
Leave a Reply