What's ‘Genocide’ in 2024? A Roundtable with Former U.S. Political Prisoner Jalil Muntaqim

This roundtable features teacher, writer, organizer, and longtime U.S. political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim, a founder of the Jericho Movement and veteran member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. Jalil will discuss the Peoples’ Senate, a project of revolutionary self-determination intended to create alternative systems of socio-economic and political order. Roundtable discussants will include author, activist, and longtime KPFK (Los Angeles) radio host Thandi Chimurenga, All of Us or None organizer Shaun Leflore, and UCR Professor Dylan Rodríguez, with introductory remarks by Dr. Arón Montenegro, UC President's Postdoctoral Fellow.

Sponsored by the Decolonizing Humanism(?) initiative at the Center for Ideas and Society, UCR Health Humanities and Disability Justice (HHDJ) Initiative, and the Blackness Unbound Faculty Commons Group.

Join Stream: https://ucr.zoom.us/j/98642452163 

Speaker Bios

Jalil A. Muntaqim

Jalil A. Muntaqim was released from prison to parole on October 6, 2020, after being confined for almost 5 decades. Jalil is a veteran member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, the co-founder  (along with deceased Comrade Sister Safiya Bukhari, d. 2003 and Baba Herman Ferguson, d. 2014) of  the National Jericho Movement to Free All Political Prisoners. Founding Jericho in 1998 was just one  of Jalil’s many significant achievements. During his time in prison Jalil, received certifications in Office Management and Architectural Drafting, and college degrees, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He mentored other prisoners and resolved numerous prison beefs. He stood by his  principles and maintained the highest level of discipline, integrity and self-respect and respect for others. 
 

Shaun Leflore

As a dedicated reentry consultant, Shaun assists individuals in successfully reintegrating into society. My approach is rooted in applying methods and best practices drawn from those who have successfully navigated reintegration. My commitment to this vital work is further demonstrated through my active membership in Riverside's All of Us or None, a group dedicated to advocating for the rights and successful reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals.

Thandi Chimurenga

Thandisizwe Chimurenga is a Los Angeles-based journalist and writer. She has reported for/anchored the KPFK Evening News (Pacifica-Los Angeles) and Free Speech Radio News. Her print journalism has appeared in or at New America Media; the Los Angeles Watts Times, Sentinel and Wave newspapers; the San Francisco Bayview Newspaper; the Oakland Post Newspaper; the Final Call; Black Agenda Report; Ebony; CounterPunch, Truth-Out, TruthDig, the San Francisco Chronicle, Mint Press News and Daily Kos. 

Dylan Rodríguez

Dylan Rodríguez is a teacher, scholar, organizer and collaborator who has maintained a day job as a Professor at the University of California-Riverside since 2001. He is a faculty member in the recently created Department of Black Study as well as the Department of Media and Cultural Studies. Dylan served as Chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies from 2009-2016, Chair of the UCR Academic Senate from 2016-2020, and has worked as the Co-Director of the UCR Center for Ideas and Society since 2021. As the Co-Director of the Center, he created the Decolonizing Humanism(?) programming stream, which features scholars, artists, and intellectuals based in revolutionary, anti-colonial, and liberationist movements from all over the world.