The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Centre for Human Rights Research (University of Manitoba), and the Faculty of Law (University of Manitoba) co‐organized and sponsored a public event on November 28, 2023, called “Innocents Behind Bars: Systemic Racism and Wrongful Convictions.” There were over 125 people in attendance, as well as 25 people joining online.

This event was inspired by the July 2023 release of Allan Woodhouse and Brian Anderson, who were wrongfully imprisoned for a murder they did not commit and spent almost 50 years fighting to clear their names. Brian Anderson and members of his family were in attendance and Allan Woodhouse was able to join virtually.

Here is a graphic representation, created by Kara Sievewright, capturing highlights of the event:

The panel, facilitated by Dr. Niigaan Sinclair (Indigenous Studies, University of Manitoba), brought leaders of the police torture justice/reparations movement in Chicago in conversation with those working on demanding justice for Indigenous and racialized peoples wrongly imprisoned here in Canada.

Amanda Carling, CEO, BC First Nations Justice Council

James Lockyer, Founding Director, Innocence Canada

Alice Kim, Director of Human Rights Practice, Centre for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, University of Chicago

Gregory Banks, Safety Coordinator for the Chicago Torture Justice Center and torture survivor (who joined virtually).

This is a full recording of the event including the question‐and‐answer period.

We hope this event will encourage a rethinking about the intersections of racism, policing, wrongful convictions and the prison system throughout Turtle Island, and urge us to consider alternatives to how we understand safety and justice for all.