NYC Black Panther Party Founder Sekou Odinga to Speak on April 11th
The Political Science Department and the Office of Multicultural Affairs are very proud to announce a presentation by Sekou Odinga on April 11th at Niagara University’s Gallagher Center Multipurpose Room from Noon-1:30 (flyer attached). Food will be served and the event is open to everyone—please spread the word and invite your classes and colleagues!
Sekou’s talk is titled From then to Now: ASSESSING THE PROGRESS OF BLACK LIBERATION STRUGGLES. In 1965, he joined the Organization of Afro-American Unity and shortly after was a founder of the New York chapter of the Black Panther Party. Persecuted as a member of the Panther 21 and the Black Liberation Army, Odinga spent 000thirty-three years behind bars as a U.S. held political prisoner of war. In 2009, Sekou reached his mandatory release date for his federal conviction in connection to the liberation of Assata Shakur – living in exile in Cuba – and was “paroled” to the New York State prison system. After five years, he was released on parole on November 25th, 2014 from the New York State sentence. Since his release he has fought for justice and for the release of all political prisoners.
The event will also feature Matt Meyer, a native New York City-based educator, activist, and author. Meyer is the War Resisters International Africa Support Network Coordinator, and United Nations/ECOSOC representative of the International Peace Research Association. The founding chair of Peace and Justice Studies and former Chair of the Consortium on Peace Research, Education and Development, Meyer has long worked to bring together academics and activists for social change.