Friday, March 8 – Saturday, March 9
Event 1: One year free: A panel, book launch, and celebration
Friday, March 8
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Indianapolis Liberation Center
1800 N. Meridian St., Suite 305 (parking and other contact info here)
* Limited seating. Please reserve your ticket here or contact info@indyliberationcenter.org with any special requests
Event 2: Common unity: The re-birth of Leon Benson concert
Saturday, March 9
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Cosmos Knights Club
3338 N. Illinois St. (Ages 21+)
* Tickets $25 online and $30 at the door
For the first time since the Conviction Integrity Unity’s investigation and the efforts of Benson and the organizing with grassroots people’s organizations exonerated Benson for a 1998 murder for which he had served almost 25 years for, Benson returns to Indianapolis for a two-day series of events. The weekend, titled “Common unity: Leon Benson’s re-birth” takes place exactly one year after his liberation from prison.
The first event, hosted at the Indianapolis Liberation Center, will begin with a panel including Benson and several community organizers that fought to free him from imprisonment. Following the panel, stay around for food, drinks, and socializing! This incredible event will also be serving as the launch of Benson’s first book, Letters of gratitude: I am because we are, described by Colin Jenkins, the Founder and Chief Editor of the Hampton Institute as an embrace of “a selfless and thoughtful yearning for redeeming humanity through liberation to demonstrate prison bars can’t hold the spirit.”
The next day, the continue celebrating with a concert at Cosmos Knights Club, headlined by EL BENTLY 448, also known as Leon Benson, whose lyrical gymnastics are as impressive as they are politically meaningful. Witness the resilience and passion of this talented artist as he performs songs from his debut EP “Innocent born guilty” and previews tracks from his upcoming album “The book of Lavi.” EL BENTLY will be joined by top NapTown artists, including Mr. Ward, Quano To Ready, and Beezy Mo Realer, as well as a special guest from Kansas City, Cedrick Johnson.
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the power of music with EL BE and his loved ones!
