The long struggle to free Jon-Adrian Velázquez, the wrongfully imprisoned son of 1199SEIU retiree Maria Velazquez, was given a major boost on February 12.

On that evening, Dateline, the weekly NBC TV news magazine, told Jon Velazquez’s story to the world. Maria, surrounded by 50 friends, supporters and her two grandsons, watched the broadcast from a Bronx restaurant. Jon, called JJ by family and friends, watched with fellow inmates at Sing Sing prison in Ossining, NY.

What they and those across the country saw was a gripping retelling of JJ Velazquez’s nightmare– and Maria’s – that began on January 27, 1998, when a retired NYC policemen was killed in a Harlem numbers joint during a botched robbery. Although, during the time of the killing, JJ was on the phone with Maria, who was then an Organizer in 1199’s RN Division, he subsequently was arrested, charged and convicted of murder. He has spent the last 14 years of his life behind bars away from his two sons for a crime anyone familiar with the details is convinced he did not commit.

“Everything about this case screams innocence,” exclaimed JJ’s attorney, Robert Gottlieb, who, along with partner Celia A. Gordon, is handling the appeal “pro bono.” The lawyers, JJ and Maria can recite the discrepancies and holes in the case in their sleep:

• Police never provided any physical or DNA evidence against JJ.

• Witnesses claimed the shooter was an African American with dreads. JJ, who is Latino, had short hair at the time.

• Three of the four witnesses have recanted and the fourth admits that he was high on heroin while witnessing the crime.

• The police failed to pursue and investigate the suspect that multiple persons claimed was the actual shooter.

• Recent scientific studies raise serious doubts about the accuracy of eyewitness identifications.

At the time of the killing, Maria and JJ, who was then 22, were so sure that the police were mistaken and that the situation would be cleared up, that Maria drove JJ to the police station to turn himself in. “That was the last time I saw him as a free man,” she said tearfully. In October 1999, JJ was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.

Since then, Maria has worked tirelessly for his exoneration while also working at 1199SEIU as an Organizer. She retired last December to devote herself full-time to her son’s freedom. “I never stopped knocking on doors,” she said.

Her support has helped JJ to keep the faith and to end what he refers to as being “buried alive.” During his incarceration, he began hitting the law books and in 2002 he challenged producers at Dateline to investigate his case and prove his guilt. After 10 years of investigations, including sifting through thousands of documents and interviewing countless witnesses, the show’s producers aired their findings. They found that the evidence of his innocence is overwhelming.

Maria, other 1199ers and growing legion of supporters have stepped up efforts to get Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance to reopen the case. Newspapers and other media have picked up the story. Actor Martin Sheen has joined the cause.

Those wishing to lend support or to learn more about the case should log onto www.freejonadrianvelazquez.org. You may also follow the cause on Facebook and Twitter.