On March 21, Leon Benson returned to Indianapolis for a press conference and concert to celebrate the second year of his exoneration. After spending 25 years—over half of his life—incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, Benson walked out of the Pendleton Correctional Facility on March 9, 2023. The next year, he worked with the Center to organize “Common Unity: The Re-Birth of Leon Benson.”
Ever since he stepped foot outside the prison gates, he has worked nonstop to use his platform to freeing the many other Leon Benson’s still in need of freedom and exoneration. True to his word, the way Benson pursues this strategy is through collaboration, compassion, and understanding.
Below are highlights from “Common Unity 2.0: See Us Now” concert, the main feature at the event held at The Basile Theatre in The Athenaeum in Indianapolis, which was organized by S.U.N. Families and the Indianapolis Liberation Center and sponsored by The Herbert Simon Family Foundation. Beginning with a historic press conference emceed by the Liberation Center’s Daissy Cook, the remaining videos capture the concert’s true musical, political, and community essence.
Common Unity: The press conference
Watch Leon Benson and Kolleen Schoen-Bunch speak publicly for the first time about their lawsuit against the City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Police Department (IMPD). The lawsuit is just one aspect of their struggle for truth and both are joined by Benson’s sister, Valerie Buford.
In May 2024, Benson and Schoen-Bunch filed a Civil Rights lawsuit against the Indianapolis and Steven Garner, Eli McAllister, Alan F. Jones, Columbus Ricks, and Leslie VansBuskirk. All defendants are still cops, except for Garner, who left the IMPD to police Indianapolis Public Schools for 17 years before retiring in 2019. This is the first lawsuit jointly filed by the victim’s family and the person exonerated for the crime and between Benson’s exoneration in March 2023 and the March 2025 press conference, neither have stopped fighting for justice for Kasey Schoen, victims of the criminal “justice” system, and all justice-impacted people.
The cops who framed Benson knew Kasey’s real killer was Joseph Webster, who is currently being protected by the state. The cops forced Benson to spend over half of his life behind prison bars, 10 of them in solitary confinement. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office told Kolleen they are not pursuing the matter any further.
Let Vernon T. Bateman go!
Ever since Leon Benson was exonerated and stepped out of the Pendleton Correctional Facility on March 9, 2023, he has been advocating for all of our people still behind enemy lines. EL BENTLY 448’s song, “Let My People Go,” expresses his conviction as he highlights Shaka A. Shakur, the Pendleton 2, Demetrius Banks, and Adam Sykes. This video demonstrates how Benson is true to his word. The performance of “Let My People Go” was recorded live at the “Common Unity 2” Concert, and includes footage from the March 8, 2024 “Common Unity: The Re-Birth of Leon Benson Panel,” as well as pictures taken throughout the year in between both iterations of Benson fighting to free Vernon T. Bateman. Be sure to go to FreeVernon.org, sign the petition, and support our brother Vernon.
Music from behind and beyond solitary
Catch a medley of EL BENTLY448‘s performance at the show, including: Caged Rose, Innocent, Da Bloc, MuraDaWorld, and Mugabe.
Collaborating and building with new organizations
At the beginning of the press conference before the concert, Leon Benson, as the Project Director of S.U.N. Families, explains the new initiative and why they’re partnering with the Indianapolis Liberation Center.
The faces of those still in need of justice
Featured photo: EL BENTLY 448, a/k/a Leon Benson, performing at the Common Unity 2.0: See Us Now concert on March 21, 2025. Credit: Indianapolis Liberation Center.