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In collaboration with its campus partners, the Human Rights Lab presented an urgent and thought-provoking panel earlier this week to discuss “The Long Term: Decarceration and Freedom in the COVID-19 Moment and Beyond.” Lab Director Alice Kim co-moderated the event, which featured Human Rights Lab Educator-in-Residence Eric Blackmon and other leaders from Chicago and around the country, speaking about the impact of COVID-19 behind bars and contemporary struggles to end death by incarceration—a term that has taken on a new meaning in the context of the pandemic. 

The dialogue built on an anthology Alice co-edited, The Long Term: Resisting Life Sentences, Working Toward Freedom, and is part of the American Studies Association's new series of Freedom Courses. The event streamed on both Zoom and Facebook Live, and has been viewed more than 1,400 times. You can view the full recorded conversation below: