Beth Am’s Race, Equity and Justice Committee Presents Part 4 of Our Film/Speaker Series

The film Just Mercy tells the powerful true story about the work of the Equal Justice Initiative challenging wrongful convictions and unfair sentences, and the importance of confronting injustice, based on a bestselling book by Bryan Stevenson. A story of justice and redemption, it also makes clear the role of racism in the criminal justice system.

Join in a discussion on needed criminal justice reform and the restorative justice movement, with two local and national experts. We will consider what Jewish tradition teaches about redemption, and we'll have a chance to meet in small groups to discuss what we've learned and brainstorm ways we can get involved in local and national criminal justice reform and restorative justice efforts.

Speakers for this event include Susan Champion and David Epps.  Moderators are Beth Am members Diane Frankle and Debbie Mukamal.

This program is free of charge, sponsored by Beth Am’s Race, Equity and Justice Film Series. Just Mercy is available from all major film streaming services and through the public library system. Please view the film in advance.

***Registration is now closed to the public. Members may login and complete the registration form below to obtain Zoom access information for the discussion.

Susan Champion is the deputy director and founder of the Three Strikes and Justice Advocacy Projects at Stanford Law School. The Three Strikes Project has been called “a voice for the forsaken” by The Economist, “a path forward as the country considers how to reduce incarceration without increasing crime,” by The New York Times, and a “champion of change” by the Obama administration. Learn more.

David Epps is the Supervising Attorney of the Santa Clara County Alternate Defender Office. He supervises an office of 22 attorneys and a support staff of investigators, paralegals, and clerical positions that provides legal services to indigent criminal defendants in Santa Clara County.  Mr. Epps received his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan. He is a 1992 graduate of Santa Clara University School of Law. He is a past president of the Santa Clara County Black Lawyers Association and has served on the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of the Santa Clara County Bar Association.  Mr. Epps serves on the Board of American Leadership Foundation - Silicon Valley.