CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
REIMAGINING SOLUTIONS
On Saturday, November 16th, Sean Wilson, Cori Thomas, Richard Cabral, and Todd Thompson discussed the lived experience of disenfranchisement, the school to prison pipeline, and art as a form of healing.
MEET THE PANELISTS
About Richard Cabral
Emmy-nominated actor Richard Cabral currently stars on the hit FX crime drama “Mayans MC,” Kurt Sutter’s “Sons of Anarchy” spin-off. He plays the role of a former army sharpshooter and weapons specialist, ‘Johnny “El Coco” Cruz,’ a full-patch member of Mayans MC. Cabral is best known for his riveting portrayal of ‘Hector Tontz’ in ABC’s commercially and critically acclaimed anthology, “American Crime.” He earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the series, which was created by Academy Award-winner John Ridley.
About Cori Thomas
Cori Thomas is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. Her plays include, LOCKDOWN; WHEN JANUARY FEELS LIKE SUMMER; CITIZENS MARKET; THE LIBERIAN LEGACY TRILOGY and more. Her plays have been produced and developed at Rattlestick Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Page 73, Women’s Project; City Theater Co. Pittsburgh; The Goodman Theater; Pillsbury House Theater; Mixed Blood; and more.
About Sean Wilson
In Sean's role as Smart Justice Statewide Organizer, he develops and implements strategies to organize supporters across the state to work toward achieving the ACLU of Wisconsin’s strategic objectives, including developing campaign plans and turning goals and strategies into tactics, timelines, and metrics. Additionally, he mobilizes volunteers to take action on legislative and ballot initiative campaigns using a variety of tactics: event attendance, calls, letters, petition signature gathering, canvassing, phone banking.
About Alcus "Todd" Thompson
Born in Milwaukee in 1960, Alcus "Todd" Thompson and his 8 brothers and sisters grew up poor but "tight-knit" on the city's north side. At the age of 15, Todd began dealing drugs to help support his family, and by the age of 22, his successful cocaine business elevated him to local kingpin status. However, in 1989, as Todd began transitioning from drugs and into a legitimate music career, he was busted and sentenced to 35 years in federal prison. While no drugs were ever found in his possession, he was convicted on "conspiracy" charges based solely on the testimony of others - under the strict sentencing guidelines at the time.
