On Saturday April 19, 2008, two former Black Panthers will be speaking at the Meg Perry Center about contemporary struggles for racial justice in Louisiana. Malik Rahim and Robert King will speak about their history in the Black Panther Party and its influence on their lives today.
Robert King is the only free member of the Angola 3. He spent 29 years in solitary confinement in the Louisiana State Prison, also known as Angola Prison, for a crime that he did not commit. He was completely exonerated and released from Angola in February of 2001. Since his release, King has worked to free two other former Black Panthers, Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace, who are still incarcerated at Angola. They were also framed and even though extensive proof of their innocence has been established.
Recently, the story of the Angola 3 has received national news coverage on NBC Nightly News and NPR’s Morning Edition. In the last month, Congressional Black Caucus Leader, David Conyers also made a prison visit and has made it a priority to secure the release of Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace.
Malik Rahim was a co-founder of the Louisiana Black Panther Party. Today Malik continues struggling for social and ecological justice in his community. Just one week after Katrina, Malik co-founded Common Ground Relief. Over the past two and a half years, Malik has worked endlessly to bring the story of post-Katrina New Orleans to the world.
Common Ground Relief holds a special place in many Mainers hearts. It was one of the relief organizations that Meg Perry of Portland, Maine was working with post-Katrina before she tragically died in a bus accident in New Orleans. Common Ground has honored her life by naming its soil remediation initiative the Meg Perry Healthy Soil Project.
“This will be a special evening for the people of Portland. The story of Common Ground Relief is intricately tied to the story of the Angola 3. Many Mainers have volunteered with Common Ground Relief since Hurricane Katrina. Saturday night will be a way for networks and relationships between New Orleans and Maine to continue to grow” says Emily Posner, Common Ground Relief Board Member and organic farmer from Montville, Maine.
Malik will also be speaking at
Unity College
Thursday April 17th 3pm in the Student Center.
Colby College
Monday April 21st
7pm
Lovejoy 100
You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming—Pablo Neruda
its a take over not a makeover—dead prez
Defending Water for Life
207-930-5232
info [at] defendingwaterinmaine [dot] org
www.defendingwaterinmaine.org
Meg Perry Healthy Soil Project
a program of Common Ground Relief
www.commongroundrelief.org
504-913-5635
