On 9 October 2012, former Black Panther and member of the Angola 3 Robert King was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Anglia Ruskin for his achievements as a civil rights campaigner and was also guest of honour at a special event organised by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

At the presentation, Dr King received a standing ovation for his moving and humbling speech. Later in the day, he received another upon entering the room where a screening of the documentary In the Land of the Free was to be shown.

The documentary, narrated by Samuel L Jackson, exposes details of the injustice that Robert and his fellow inmates endured. It explains how three men, all members of the Black Panther Party, were convicted for murders committed within prison, despite unreliable evidence and witnesses. Dr King spent 29 years in solitary confinement, in a 6 foot by 9 foot cell, before his conviction was overturned and he was released in 2001.

The other members of the Angola 3, Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, are still behind bars 40 years after being convicted. During the 1970s, the Angola 3 protested against continued segregation, corruption and abuse facing the largely black prison population within Angola, and formed one of the only recognised Black Panther Party prison chapters.

Dr King has campaigned tirelessly for the release of Herman and Albert since his own conviction was overturned. He is supported by Amnesty International and The Body Shop. The Roddicks have been heavily involved in the Angola 3 campaign for many years, and Gordon Roddick attended both the graduation ceremony and the evening event at Anglia Ruskin. Following a short discussion with the audience, Dr King spoke individually with many guests at a reception in his honour, and signed his book From the Bottom of the Heap.

Dr Robert King is now firmly embedded in the life of our department, and we hope that Anglia Ruskin's recognition of his work will enable him to succeed in securing the release of Albert and Herman.

For more information about the campaign, read Robert's speech and see what you can do, visit the Angola 3 website.

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