Friday, July 19, 3-6pm, Columbus Metropolitan Library [Northside Branch] [Rm. 1], 1423 N. High St.

While serving a prison sentence in 1997, Dan Cahill composed a letter to announce an upcoming work stoppage in protest of Ohio’s 1996 “truth in sentencing” law. All new prisoners were to serve the exact time length given to them by a judge, but those already in prison were still subject to continuations from the Parole Board. Using the name of another prisoner, Dan sent his letter about the work stoppage to Cleveland black newspaper The Call and Post, which published it. Unfortunately, the other prisoners informed staff of Dan’s activities and he was put in isolation as retaliation. One time while corrections officers were being especially violent with him, another guard physically intervened and fought him off. That was the moment when Rob Jones knew that his career as a corrections officer was over.

Dan and Rob have seldom seen each other since Rob left the occupation. Rob went on to study Comparative Studies here at OSU and receive a Masters in Religious Studies from Georgia State University. He introduced Appalachian State Students to works religions as an adjunct professor and is now a manager at the French Broad Food Co-op in Asheville, North Carolina. He also spent eleven years as the guitarist for Columbus-based psychedelic band Mas Bagua. Throughout his time in prison and ever since his release, Dan has worked to change the prison system and to seek justice for those caught in it. Dan has sat on the boards of various organizations and is an unmatched expert in restorative justice.

Next Friday [July 19], Dan and Rob are reuniting so that the community can benefit from an understanding of their experiences. From the injustices, corruption, and brutality of the system, to advocacy groups’ appeals to respectability over organized pressure from prisoners, they’ve seen it all. They will be facilitating a conversation about the state of the prison system in Ohio and what it could look like if more resources were put into programs that increase prisoners’ bonds to their community. Through this discussion, we will attempt to break through feelings of powerlessness, envision solutions, and identify actions that anyone can take.

Sponsored by Columbus Free Press.

We will stream this event live on our Facebook page!