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 organizing 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.

This event marks the launch of the The Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exlcusion (CCSE) Critical Research Seminar series.

About the CCSE Critical Research Seminar Series

This 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.

For full details of scheduled future CCSE critical research seminars please visit http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/HSS/ccseseminarseries.htm

For more information about the film please visit:
www.inthelandofthefreefilm.com

For more information about the campaign to free all of the Angola 3, please visit:
www.angola3.org

To take action with Amnesty International, and demand Herman and Albert be released from solitary confinement please visit:
www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/justice-for-albert-woodfox-and-herman-wallace

Learn more about Robert King:

www.kingsfreelines.com 

LJMU School of Humanities and Social Science
68 Hope Street
Liverpool
L1 9BZ Liverpool
United Kingdom

Wednesday, 12 October 2011 from 16:00 to 19:00 (BST)

The Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion