Former Black Panther to speak at Anglia Ruskin
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Civil rights campaigner and member of Angola 3 to hold discussion after film screening
Date: 9 October 2012
Time: 18.00
Venue: LAB 002, Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge campus
Robert King, a former Black Panther and member of the Angola 3, will visit Anglia Ruskin University for a film screening and discussion, and to receive an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Anglia Ruskin for his achievements as a civil rights campaigner.
King will discuss his experiences in the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary known as 'Angola'. Prior to this discussion there will be a screening of In the Land of the Free, a documentary, narrated by Samuel L Jackson, which describes how three men, including King, were convicted for murders committed within prison - despite unreliable evidence and witnesses. During the 1970s these three men 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.
Shortly after speaking out, Wallace and Woodfox were convicted for the murder of a prison guard, Brent Miller, despite there being no physical evidence against them. The main eye witness was bribed and promised his freedom by the warden in exchange for testifying, while another witness was legally blind.
King was also put under investigation for the Miller murder and was thrown into solitary, despite not being in the prison when it happened. He was subsequently accused of the murder of another prisoner, and again convicted by an all-white jury on the evidence of unreliable witnesses (who subsequently recanted) before his conviction was overturned. King spent 29 years in solitary confinement - in a six foot by nine foot cell - before being released in 2001 when his conviction was overturned. The other members of the Angola 3, Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, are still behind bars 40 years after being convicted.
The case of the Angola 3 has been cited as a gross miscarriage of justice and Amnesty International called for their immediate release from solitary confinement, which violates the US Constitution and international human rights treaties. The acclaimed documentary 'In the Land of the Free' and King's autobiography 'From the Bottom of the Heap' expose the truth behind their confinement.
Speaking about his honorary degree, King said: "As the only freed member of the Angola 3, I am honoured and humbled to be accepting this honorary Doctor of Law degree.
"Many people have been involved in my evolution and for this I am grateful. So I will accept this award also in recognition of them, especially to my comrades Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace who are still fighting for freedom after 40 years in solitary confinement, to all political prisoners and to all those who fight for justice."
As Terry Waite CBE (himself the recipient of an Anglia Ruskin honorary degree in 2001) said: "To lose one's freedom is a terrible punishment in itself. To be innocent and incarcerated for years is almost beyond belief."
The free discussion and film screening will begin at 18.00 with a drinks reception. To reserve your place, please email Colleen Moore.
Date: 9 October 2012
Time: 18.00
Venue: LAB 002, Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge campus
Robert King, a former Black Panther and member of the Angola 3, will visit Anglia Ruskin University for a film screening and discussion, and to receive an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Anglia Ruskin for his achievements as a civil rights campaigner.
King will discuss his experiences in the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary known as 'Angola'. Prior to this discussion there will be a screening of In the Land of the Free, a documentary, narrated by Samuel L Jackson, which describes how three men, including King, were convicted for murders committed within prison - despite unreliable evidence and witnesses. During the 1970s these three men 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.
Shortly after speaking out, Wallace and Woodfox were convicted for the murder of a prison guard, Brent Miller, despite there being no physical evidence against them. The main eye witness was bribed and promised his freedom by the warden in exchange for testifying, while another witness was legally blind.
King was also put under investigation for the Miller murder and was thrown into solitary, despite not being in the prison when it happened. He was subsequently accused of the murder of another prisoner, and again convicted by an all-white jury on the evidence of unreliable witnesses (who subsequently recanted) before his conviction was overturned. King spent 29 years in solitary confinement - in a six foot by nine foot cell - before being released in 2001 when his conviction was overturned. The other members of the Angola 3, Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, are still behind bars 40 years after being convicted.
The case of the Angola 3 has been cited as a gross miscarriage of justice and Amnesty International called for their immediate release from solitary confinement, which violates the US Constitution and international human rights treaties. The acclaimed documentary 'In the Land of the Free' and King's autobiography 'From the Bottom of the Heap' expose the truth behind their confinement.
Speaking about his honorary degree, King said: "As the only freed member of the Angola 3, I am honoured and humbled to be accepting this honorary Doctor of Law degree.
"Many people have been involved in my evolution and for this I am grateful. So I will accept this award also in recognition of them, especially to my comrades Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace who are still fighting for freedom after 40 years in solitary confinement, to all political prisoners and to all those who fight for justice."
As Terry Waite CBE (himself the recipient of an Anglia Ruskin honorary degree in 2001) said: "To lose one's freedom is a terrible punishment in itself. To be innocent and incarcerated for years is almost beyond belief."
The free discussion and film screening will begin at 18.00 with a drinks reception. To reserve your place, please email Colleen Moore.
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