The Rap On Trial Symposium

2601 Gentilly BLVD,New Orleans LA 70122

01 November, 2022

Description

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS IN DANGER The Rap On Trial Symposium is a multi-panel event held to address the issue of law enforcement and prosecutors utilizing rap lyrics as evidence of a crime. The Symposium will be presented by Dillard University’s Center for Racial Justice on November 1, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event will feature four in-depth panel discussions, a short film, and interactive educational resources. Each panel discussion centers specific subtopics within the subject matter, highlighted by nationally recognized experts in an effort to educate a wide range of audiences to create change. 12 PM - Defending Lyrics in the Courtroom: A Question of Free Speech & Racial Bias Panelists: Dr. Corey Miles, Erik Nielson, and Bruce Reilly Description: With recent law passage in only two states, defense attorneys across the nation still face the possibility of having to defend lyrics in the courtroom. This panel discusses the in’s and out’s of defending your client’s First Amendment rights when rap lyrics, stage personas, and videos are entered as evidence. 2PM - Unpacking the Biases & Changing the Narrative Moderator: David Dennis Jr. Panelists: Leslie Rose, Bruce Reilly, and Angelique Phipps Description: The daily consumption of both traditional media and social media has the ability to shape the way that the public views the world and reinforce biases that affect P.O.C. This panel discusses how the media and entertainment industries reinforce implicit & explicit biases, have the ability to influence the outcomes of jury decisions, and how we can change the narrative. 3:30PM - Protecting Your Art: A Panel for Hip Hop Artists & Musicians Moderator: Nesby Phips Panelists: Wendy Day, Mac Phipps, and Kevin Miller Description: As rap lyrics and videos continue to be used as evidence across the country, Hip Hop artists question how they can protect their art or whether they should have to. With insight from veteran artists, a long-time industry executive, and a law enforcement officer, this panel will discuss how rappers are putting themselves at risk of arrest and prosecution, as well as, how to better protect their art. 6:30PM - Hip Hop & We Don’t Stop: Where Do We Go From Here? Moderator: Leslie Rose Panelists: Killer Mike, Mac Phipps, and Erik Nielson Description: Law enforcement and prosecutors have been using rap lyrics to charge and convict the artists who wrote them since Hip Hop’s inception. Laws that would limit this practice have been recently passed in New York and California. Additional artistic expression protection laws have been proposed in New Jersey and on the Federal level. This panel will discuss the practice of Rap on Trial while taking a critical look at how it happens, the root causation, and how we can effectively create change across the country.