Seminar: Robert King - the Story of a Black Panther

22 September 2011

The Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion Critical Research Seminar Series offers a platform for guest speakers to discuss their past, present and ongoing research within the fields of crime, criminalisation, marginalization and social exclusion; and/or their involvement with a variety of campaigning and community groups affected by such processes.

Cohering with the focus and aims of the CCSE, the emphasis of the seminar series is upon critical research and/or practice. It aims, in particular, to provide a forum for individuals, groups, experiences and views which typically struggle to be heard.

The CCSE Critical Research Seminar Series will launch with the following event:

This will be introduced by Professor Joe Sim, then a screening of 'In the land of the free', followed by questions and answers with Robert King.

Date: Wednesday 12 October 2011
Time: 4.00 to 7.00pm
Venue: Liverpool John Moores University, 68 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BZ

Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, Robert King was sentenced to life without parole and spent 29 years in solitary confinement (a 6ft x 9 ft cell) in Louisiana’s Angola prison until his release in 2001. While in prison, King joined Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox in forming a prison chapter of the Black Panther Party while successfully organising prisoners in the struggle to improve conditions, reduce sexual assault, improve food quality and confront racism – all of which were condoned and even instigated by prison security.

As a result of their activism, and as members of the Black Panther party, they were convicted of the murder of a prison guard based on no DNA evidence and the testimony of a blind eye witness and a prison snitch. Wallace and Woodfox remain in Angola prison to this day despite having their convictions overturned by Federal courts. This gross miscarriage of justice is now the focus of a recent film, 'In the Land of the Free', directed by Vadim Jean and narrated by Samuel L Jackson which is being shown as part of the event on 12 October.

Hosted by Liverpool John Moores University, Robert King comes here to tell his personal story of injustice, to expose the cruelty of the prison-industrial complex and call for the release of Wallace and Woodfox. He calls into question both the systemic injustices involving social class and racism that lead people to unjust incarceration as well as the human rights violations that prisoners must endure once incarcerated.

The event is free but places are limited. Register your attendance attendance by visiting http://robertkingccseseminar.eventbrite.com/ and entering your details.

For further information about the CCSE Seminars visit http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/HSS/ccseseminarseries.htm