Robert Hillary King is a campaigner for justice and penal reform, writer, former member of the Black Panther Party, and for 31 years an inmate of America's infamous Angola prison.
Born in 1942, Robert grew up in an America where racial segregation was legally institutionalised. He spent several spells in Louisiana State Penitentiary, more commonly known as Angola prison, for convictions based on highly questionable evidence. It was during this period that Robert lost faith in the American justice system and he became involved in the civil rights movement. He joined the Black Panther Party, the focus of America's Black Power Movement in the 1960s and 70s.
In 1973, Robert was charged with the murder of a fellow inmate. Although another prisoner claimed sole responsibility for the murder, Robert was tried alongside him. Robert was kept bound and gagged throughout the trial and he was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment and placed in solitary confinement, where he was to spend the next 29 years of his life.
It was in Angola's closed-cell restricted area that Robert came into contact with Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace. The men were confined to cells of 6x9' for 23 hours a day. Collectively, they began campaigning for better conditions for their fellow inmates and the three men built up a relationship that lasts to this day.
In 2001, after a complex arrangement of plea bargaining, Robert walked free from Angola prison. Since his release he has worked tirelessly to free Herman and Albert. He has undertaken speaking tours across the world and has attended many international events, speaking on behalf of the Angola 3 and political prisoners around the world. In 2008 Robert published 'From the Bottom of the Heap: The Autobiography of a Black Panther'.
Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace remain in Angola prison, serving their 40th year in solitary confinement, and Robert has vowed to continue to tour, to campaign and to speak on their behalf until they are released.
"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Robert Hillary King for the award of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
Robert Hillary King is a campaigner for justice and penal reform, writer, former member of the Black Panther Party, and for 31 years an inmate of America's infamous Angola prison.
Born in 1942, Robert was raised by his grandmother in the poor Algiers district of New Orleans. Growing up in an America where racial segregation was legally institutionalised, his childhood was characterised by poverty and discrimination. As a teenager he became involved in petty crime and carried out a number of burglaries. At the age of 18 he was arrested for robbery, a crime which to this day he maintains he did not commit. Robert was convicted and sent to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, more commonly known as Angola prison, notorious for its brutal conditions.
It was to be the first of several spells in prison for convictions based on highly questionable evidence, and not surprisingly it was during this period in his life that Robert lost faith in the American justice system. He became involved in the civil rights movement and joined the Black Panther Party, the focus of America's Black Power Movement in the 1960s and 70s.
In 1972 a prison guard was murdered in Angola and members of the Black Panther party, Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox were put under investigation and placed in closed-cell restriction. Robert was also put under investigation for the murder, even though at the time he was in another prison 150 miles away. The cases against all 3 men had been built on evidence that was later shown to be fictitious and entirely unreliable.
It was in Angola's closed-cell restricted area that Robert came into contact with Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace. In the closed-cell area contact between inmates was very limited, with few visitors and men confined to cells 6 X 9 feet for 23 hours a day.
Collectively, they began campaigning for better conditions for their fellow inmates and an end to the culture of brutality and discrimination. They were frequently punished for their activism and would be locked in a cell known as 'the dungeon'. But in a world of inhumanity it was a risk worth taking, and the three men built up a relationship that lasts to this day.
In 1973, knowing they could no longer keep Robert incarcerated for the murder of the guard, Robert was charged with the murder of a fellow inmate. Although another prisoner claimed sole responsibility for the murder, Robert was tried alongside him. Robert was kept bound and gagged throughout the trial and he was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment and placed in solitary confinement, where he was to spend the next 29 years of his life.
Each continued to plead his innocence and as the outside world began to learn of their plight they became known as the Angola 3. Years went by, numerous organisations campaigned for their release, and gradually attitudes to racial discrimination within American society changed. Finally, in 2001, after a complex arrangement of plea bargaining, Robert walked free from Angola prison. Since his release he has worked tirelessly to free Herman and Albert. He has undertaken speaking tours across the world, has appeared before parliaments in Belgium and Portugal, and has attended many international events, speaking on behalf of the Angola 3 and political prisoners around the world.
In 2008 Robert published From the Bottom of the Heap: The Autobiography of a Black Panther. The Angola 3 have also been the subject of two films - Angola 3: Black Panthers and the Last Slave Plantation and Land of the Free, a documentary narrated by Samuel L Jackson.
In 2011 Robert came to Anglia Ruskin University, where he spoke at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace remain in Angola prison, serving their 40th year in solitary confinement, and Robert has vowed to continue to tour, to campaign and to speak on their behalf until they are released.
After 31 years living in the most brutal conditions imaginable, Robert emerged not only with his sanity intact, but his humanity too, and this bears testament to his courage and fortitude. His commitment this cause is an inspiration.
Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present the Robert Hillary King for the award of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa."