Bryan Stevenson, author of the 2015-16 Common Reading book, “Just Mercy”, will deliver the annual Common Reading Invited Lecture, Tues. Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Beasley Coliseum.
Stevenson, the founder and director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer whose work advocates for the rights of the poor, incarcerated, and condemned. He has argued successfully before the US Supreme Court on issues of excessive and unfair sentencing, abuse of the incarcerated, and the prosecution of children and the mentally ill. For this work Stevenson was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people for 2015.
Now in its ninth year, WSU’s Common Reading program hosts lectures, film showings, and other events that explore the topics approached in each year’s chosen common reading novel. Throughout this academic year “Just Mercy” is providing a gateway to discussions on societal issues such as mass incarceration, racial bias, and the criminal justice system.
Read more about the program, the book, and upcoming events at: https://CommonReading.wsu.edu.
