Upcoming Events for February

We wanted to let you know that there will be several events coming up in the next few weeks that you may find very interesting.                                                                                                                                                                                                       First, there will be a film showing of "Slavery by Another Name" followed by a discussion with CCJRC Board member and Executive Director of Second Chance Center, Hassan A Latif CAC. Saturday, Februrary 22, 2:00 p.m. Ford Warren Branch Library  2825 High St. Denver, CO 80205 Slavery By Another Name chronicles the dark history and rise of the use of inmate labor, chain gangs, and the genesis of the for-profit prison industry after the Civil War to undermine the goals of Reconstruction and racial equality.  For more information about the event contact the library at 720-865-0920. Slavery by Another Name challenges one of our country’s most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery ended with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. The documentary recounts how in the years following the Civil War, insidious new forms of forced labor emerged in the American South, keeping hundreds of thousands of African Americans in bondage, trapping them in a brutal system that would persist until the onset of World War II. - See more at: http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/pbs-film/#sthash.MjMCKdlK.dpuf.  The next event is a panel discussion on the death penalty sponsored by the Colorado Independent.  This is a free event that is open to the public. Thursday, Februrary 27th, 6:30 p.m. First Unitarian Society of Denver 1400 Lafayette St. Denver, CO.  80218 Last march, after a bill to abolish the death penalty in Colorado died in a House Committee, Governor John Hickenlooper called for a statewide conversation on the issue.  The Colorado Independent has decided to help start that conversation.  The debate will include several sides of the debate from both policy and personal perspectives.  Panelists include: Bob Autobee, father of slain corrections officer Eric Autobee, who has pleaded with prosecutors not to seek death for the man currently on trial for his son's killing. Rhonda Fields, whose son's killer was sentenced to death, who has said that voters should decide whether to keep capital punishment in Colorado. Dave Young, the newly elected distirct attorney in Adams and Broomfield Counties.  He has prosecuted high-profile capital murder cases and has prosecuted many other homicide cases. Derek Samuelson, a criminal defense lawyer in Fort Collins who has defended clients against the death penalty. The discussion will be moderated by Colorado Independent editor Susan Greene, who will open the conversation to questions from the audience.  For more information on the event contact the Unitarian Society at (303) 831-7113. Lastly, the Colorado Juvenile Defender Coalition and the Colorado Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Council held a pre-screening of the film KIDS FOR CASH.  NOW IT IS COMING TO A THEATER FOR PUBLIC RELEASE THIS FEBRUARY      Free advance screening of Kids for Cash SIE Film Center, 2520 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80205        7:30 pm on Thursday, February 20th!  Reserve your seat online at http://conta.c/1dJLXSt. The film tells the story of children shackled and incarcerated for minor crimes in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania--a judicial scandal that ultimately landed two judges in federal prison. Join CJDC for Why Don't Kids Have Lawyers Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, February 24th at 10:00 am in the Capitol basement for training and legislative visits; 12:00 pm in Room 107 for CJDC video and panel discussion.  Free t-shirt and lunch if you RSVP: http://conta.cc/1hlKbPv For more information on either event contact CJDC at (303) 825-0194