Professor Bryan Stevens on presents the Martin Luther King Lecture 2024 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Registration is no longer possible. T he venue is completely full, so unfortunately we cannot provide acces s to people who have not registered.
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On Wednesday, 9 October 2024, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ w ill welcome a special guest for the annual Martin Luther King Lecture : Bryan Stevenson. This internationally renowned human rights lawyer, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, and professor at New York U niversity School of Law, will be our keynote speaker.
T
heme: 'Freedom, Justice, and Hope'
The philosophy of Mar
tin Luther King Jr., centred on equal rights and freedom for all, con
tinues to inspire many. The central question of the evening will be h
ow we can maintain hope in the fight for a just world. In the spirit
of King, we will discuss today's challenges and look forward to a bet
ter future.
Programme
In his lecture, Brya
n Stevenson will share his remarkable experiences and vision on human
rights. Following this, Guno Jones, professor holding the Anton de K
om Chair at VU Amsterdam, will reflect.
After the winner is ann ounced of the Martin Luther King Spoken Word competition, there will be a short performance followed by a closing reception in the foyer.< /p>
Bryan Stevenson
Professor of law at New York University School of Law, founder, and
executive director of the , a human rights organisation based in Montgomery, Alabam
a. Under his leadership, the organisation achieved significant legal
victories, including the elimination of excessive and unfair punishme
nts, the exoneration of wrongly convicted death row prisoners, and th
e fight against the abuse of prisoners and individuals with mental il
lnesses.
Stevenson has won several cases before the United Stat es Supreme Court, resulting in landmark rulings, such as protecting c hildren from life sentences without the possibility of parole. He has also launched initiatives addressing poverty and discrimination. Ste venson led the establishment of the Equal Justice Initiative’s Lega cy Sites, including the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for P eace and Justice. These sites document the legacy of slavery, lynchin g, and racial segregation, linking these historical issues to modern challenges like racial bias and mass incarceration.
Gun
o Jones
Professor at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, holdi
ng the Anton de Kom Chair in the history of colonialism and slavery a
nd their contemporary impact. His interdisciplinary research focuses
on topics such as postcolonial migration, political discourse on citi
zenship, and the legacy of colonialism and slavery in the Netherlands
. As project leader, he is currently heading a study on the legal his
tory of Dutch slavery. Jones has extensive teaching experience at var
ious universities and has published widely on colonialism, slavery, a
nd their social and political consequences.
Diana Matro
os (moderator)
Journalist and presenter, known for her w
ork across various media, including television and radio. She has a b
ackground in journalism and specialises in presenting news and curren
t affairs programmes. Matroos is recognised for her sharp analyses an
d engagement with social issues.
Martin Luther King's non-violent fight for equalit y continues to be a source of inspiration today. Through his speeches , he inspired many, building bridges and overcoming resistance. The a nnual Martin Luther King Lecture commemorates his work and s erves as a source of inspiration.
DESCRIPTION: Registration is no longer possible. The venue is completely full, so unfortunately we cannot provide access to peo ple who have not registered. -------- On Wednesda y, 9 October 2024, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will welcome a specia l guest for the annual Martin Luther King Lecture: Bryan Stevenson. T his internationally renowned human rights lawyer, founder of the Equa l Justice Initiative, and professor at New York University School of Law, will be our keynote speaker. Theme: 'Freedom, Justice, a nd Hope'