WRONGFULLY CONVICTED PRISONER TO SPEAK IN ILLINOIS
SPENT NEARLY 30 YEARS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

Robert King, victim of nearly thirty years solitary confinement in Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana was released February 8, 2001, but his two compatriots, Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace are still suffering what the ACLU calls the longest solitary confinements in U.S., and possibly world penal history. King, a former Black Panther and political prisoner, was placed in solitary on the basis of his political activities within the prison. He was ultimately offered freedom via a plea bargain, because the United States Court of Appeals found evidence that the sole evidence used to convict him, the eyewitness testimony of another inmate, was not credible. Upon his release he said that, "I may be free of Angola, but Angola will never be free of me."

The Chicago Chapter of the National Coalition to Free the Angola 3 is sponsoring a tour by King to bring to light the continued confinements of Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace. He will focus on the human rights problems with solitary confinement, as well as the racial and political bias that played a role in their convictions, in an effort to secure their freedom.

Monday October 22
"The Legacy of the Black Panthers and the Struggle Against Today's Criminal Injustice System"
News & Letters, 36 South Wabash, #1440 - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 24
King Solomon's Mines, 1207 West 63rd Street (at Racine) - 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 25
Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 North St. Louis Avenue, Student Union Room 214 - 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. and from 1:40 to 2:45 p.m.

Saturday, October 27
Screening of "Angola - The Farm" at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State, Room 8S 14/15, followed by discussion with King, hosted by Chicago Public Library Society In Focus Series - 2:00 p.m.

King will also speak Saturday at The College of Complexes, 4008 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Restaurant, $3.00 Tuition + $5.00 food/drink purchase required by restaurant - 8:00 p.m.

Monday, October 29
"American Penal Law and the Angola III," With Ben Wolf, ACLU of Illinois Institutionalized Persons Project Director, DePaul University School of Law, 25 E. Jackson, Room 804 - 12:00 noon

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Otrompke: 773/508-5531; otrompke (at) law.com
Judith Katz: 312-201-9740 x329; jlk_911 (at) lycos.com

National Coalition to Free the Angola 3
P.O. Box 617511
Chicago, Illinois 60661
www.prisonactivist.org/angola
(773) 250-3477