A Forum Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of People’s Law Office (PLO), 1969-2019
Panels, presentations and conversations between movement leaders, PLO lawyers, former political prisoners and current and former PLO clients.
12:10-12:30: The Founding of People’s Law Office and the Legacy of Fred Hampton
Former members of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party (TBA) in conversation, moderated by PLO co-founder Jeff Haas
12:40-1:40: Solidarity with Political Prisoners and Prisoner-led Struggles
Speakers:
•Zolo Azania: New Afrikan and former Death Row prisoner
•Nancy Kurshan: long-time activist, co-founder of the Yippies and author of “Out Of Control: A 15 Year Battle Against Control Unit Prions,”
•Mike Africa Jr. of the MOVE Organization and son of two recently released MOVE 9 members
•Ricardo Jimenez: former political prisoner of the struggle for liberation of Puerto Rico
•Benny Lee: One of the “Pontiac Brothers” of the Pontiac Rebellion and activist working with former prisoners
•Dennis Cunningham: PLO co-founder
Facilitated by PLO attorney Brad Thomson
1:50-2:50: Legal Support for Struggles Against Colonialism and Occupation
Speakers:
•José Lopez of Puerto Rican Cultural Center
•Dima Khalidi of Palestine Legal
•Hatem Abudayyeh of U.S. Palestinian Community Network
•Alberto Rodriguez: former political prisoner of the struggle for liberation of Puerto Rico and retired PLO paralegal
Facilitated by PLO attorneys Michael Deutsch and Jan Susler
3:00-4:00: Justice for Survivors of Chicago Police Torture
Speakers:
•Anthony Holmes: one of the first police torture survivors and member of Chicago Torture Justice Memorials (CTJM) and Board Member of Chicago Torture Justice Center (CTJC)
•Alice Kim: Co-founder of CTJM and Co-Director of Community Building for Prison + Neighborhood Art Project
•Darrell Cannon: police torture survivor, member of CTJM
•Aislinn Pulley: Co-Director of CTJC and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Chicago.
Facilitated by People’s Law Office attorneys Joey Mogul, John Stainthorp and Flint Taylor
4:10-5:00: Lessons of Movement Lawyering: For Today and the Future
Speakers:
Damon Williams of #LetUsBreathe Collective, Page May of Assata’s Daughters, and more TBA, in conversation with Christian Snow: Organizer and attorney with PLO
Light lunch and refreshments to be provided.
