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Community Corner

Gerald Hankerson: In Honor of Black History Month

Edmonds Community College brings activist Angela Davis (Jan. 17), a panel of experts on the issue of human trafficking (Jan. 31), Seattle NAACP vice president Gerald Hankerson (Feb. 6), and author Jamie Ford (Feb. 27), to campus as part of its lecture series. All events take place in the Black Box Theatre at Edmonds Community College, 20000 68th Ave.W, Lynnwood.

Free and open to the public. For more information, call 425.640.1139 or go to www.blackboxedcc.org.

Edmonds Community College's lunchtime lecture series brings thought-provoking and inspirational speakers to campus. Each quarter, a committee of students, faculty, and staff invite scholars, artists, activists, and community leaders to campus to spark discussion and reflection in our community.


Gerald Hankerson: In Honor of Black History Month — 12:30 p.m., Wed., Feb. 6

At age 18, Gerald Hankerson was tried and convicted of accessory to a crime that resulted in a life sentence without parole. Hankerson was the alleged accomplice in a murder where others falsely implicated him, which resulted in his conviction and de facto death sentence. Hankerson was denied clemency in 2006, which caused many community and political leaders and grass-root organizations to form the “Coalition to Free Hankerson.” On April 9, 2009 at the age of 40, Gerald Hankerson was granted clemency and released from prison after serving 23 years. Currently he serves as VP of the NAACP in Seattle/King County, as well as an Executive Board Member of The Defender’s Association. Hankerson travels around the state and country discussing issues of the criminal justice system, as well as speaking at local schools and juvenile centers mentoring at-risk youth.

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