Criminal Justice Reform
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Halim Flowers |
TEDxPearlStreet
• July 2020
After being labeled a “Superpredator” by society and sentenced to two life sentences in prison at the age of 16, Halim Flowers shares his journey and how through love he was able to see himself as more than a menace to society imagine a future beyond the confines of the cage where he thought he would spend the remainder of his life. According to Halim, it is through the dynamic power of love that modern society can begin the reconciliation process and allow for a collective healing as we rediscover our shared humanity and overcome the petty social constructs that divide us.
SPEAKER BIO:At 16, Halim Flowers found himself sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. More than 20 years later, Halim authored 11 books while serving time, mentored incarcerated youths through D.C.'s Young Men Emerging program, and co-founded Unchained Media Collective, a production and media arts company focused on telling the stories of currently or formerly incarcerated people. Halim was released from the D.C. jail on March 21, 2019, through the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016, which allows individuals to petition for case review before the D.C. Superior Court. Individuals must have been sentenced as a juvenile, have served at least 20 years in prison, and have not yet had parole.