Let's Get Free (Q&A pt. 2) - Professor Paul Butler at A Capella Books

On June 4, 2009, Professor Paul Butler of George Washington University, a former federal prosecutor, reads from his book, "Let's Get Free: A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice," at a standing-room only audience at Atlanta's A Capella Books.

Paul Butler was an ambitious federal prosecutor, a Harvard Law grad who gave up his corporate law salary to fight the good fight — until one day he was arrested on the street and charged with a crime he didn't commit.

At the courthouse Butler stood alongside the people he'd spent his days sending to prison. This stint on the other side of the law confirmed his sense that the system was not working — not making the streets safer, nor helping the people he'd hoped, as a prosecutor, to protect.

Lets Get Free gives an insiders view of the lock-em-up culture that makes every American worse off. We've reached the tipping point—so many people are in prison, especially for nonviolent drug offenses, that incarceration now causes more crime than it prevents. Butler offers innovative methods for citizens to resist complicity and stand up for their rights. He introduces the concept of strategic jury nullification--voting "not guilty" on principle--as a powerful way to protest unfair laws. Butler's groundbreaking "hip hop theory of justice" reveals a profound analysis of crime and punishment found in popular culture.

This is the second segment of the Q&A.

For part one of the Q&A, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVniHAPOY6s

For part three of the Q&A, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZoyRiTtSCY


This Q&A followed a reading from Professor Butler's book, Let's Get Free. To see the reading from the book, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o84nfbs8quE


For more on Professor Paul Butler's book, Let's Get Free: A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice, visit:
http://www.letsgetfreethebook.com

For more information about A Capella Books in Atlanta, Georgia visit:
http://www.acappellabooks.com/

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• Professor Paul Butler
• Paul Butler
• Book Reading
• Q&A
• criminal law
• justice

[BLOKESGONEWILD]

@libertarianjury if you really want exelent videos, do a search for collateral murder.

[BLOKESGONEWILD]

@libertarianjury meanwhile its perfectly fine to give money to socialism to the u.s. military budget to invent enemies, and massacres millions of people.

[BLOKESGONEWILD]

aint that a bich? we gotta stop locking people up because we cant afford it. reminds me of the reason why america stopped massacring people in viet nam, because they couldnt afford it. in other words, if there was the money, lets continue locking people up, and masscring people in iraq.

[libertarianjury]

What Paul Butler fails to realize here is that spending "that money" on schools would make the problem worse. Before the government took over the business of schooling, private teachers actually had an incentive to teach kids about their rights as citizen-jurors. The Anti-Federalist Papers were taught in HIGH SCHOOLS. Now, the Anti-Federalist Papers are not taught in colleges! (And virtually zero prosecutors have read them, or Lysander Spooner's works!!!) Giving money to socialism =/= free.

[libertarianjury]

This guy should check out the "Institute for Justice". They finance justice for poor people. As well, he should check out "Adventures in Legal Land" by Marc Stevens...

Marc Stevens is also on youtube.  Excellent videos...