Friday, March 21
Press Conference: 5:30 pm
Concert: 6:00 pm
Basile Theatre at the Athenaeum
401 E. Michigan St.
After spending 25 years falsely incarcerated, Leon Benson was liberated from prison on March 9, 2023. Two years after his exoneration, he’s returning to Indianapolis for a concert, celebration, and commitment to freeing our people still locked behind cages.
This special event starts with a press conference where Benson will, for the first time, speak publicly about the lawsuit he and the victim’s sister, Kolleen Bunch, filed against the IMPD officers who framed Benson for killing Kasey Schoen in 1998. These cops forced Benson to spend 25 years—10 of them in isolation—imprisoned by the state of Indiana while letting Kasey Shoen’s killer go free.
After the press conference (which is open to those who purchase VIP 2 tickets and invited press), the Common Unity 2 concert kicks off. Together with the legendary DJ DonDon, EL BENTLY 448 (Leon Benson) will blend his musical, lyrical, and comedic talents with the stylings of King V., Mr. Ward317, Quano To Ready, and Foosie.
Common Unity 2 is about more than Leon Benson the individual; it’s about all of the Leon Benson’s we still need to free—people like Shaka A. Shakur, Kevin Payton, Phillip Stroud, Demetrius Burks, Raylon Young, Obadyah Ben-Yisrayl and, among many others, Vernon T. Bateman. Just outside the Basile Theatre, you can visit Bateman’s art exhibit, “If bullets could cry: Ammunition for healing,” at the Christel DeHaan ArtSpace.
Common Unity 1: The re-birth of Leon Benson
The first time Benson returned to Indianapolis since his exoneration was for “Common Unity 1: The re-birth of Leon Benson” in March 2024. One year after his liberation, the Indianapolis Liberation Center hosted a panel, celebration, and book launch.
The people and media packed the Center for the event that featured Kolleen Bunch, Kelly Bauder of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit, the relatives of those falsely imprisoned, Dani Abdullah of PSL Indianapolis, and Dr. Derek R. Ford of the Indianapolis Liberation Center and Shaka Shakur Freedom Campaign. The crowd was packed with those who served time with Benson, each one of whom Benson spotlighted.
“The truth never dies!” Watch the Re-birth of Leon benson
For more information, you can visit the Common Unity 2.0 website!
All proceeds from the event will go to the main organizers, S.U.N. Families and the Indianapolis Liberation Center, to continue to fund the freedom of our people!