On November 5, we launched our Shadowproof Events series with a conversation between Brian Sonenstein and Mary E. Buser, author of “Lockdown on Rikers.”

Buser’s book chronicles her time and experiences as a mental health worker under the Giuliani administration at one of the largest and most violent jail complexes in the nation. “Lockdown on Rikers” is a prescient, first-person account of how people with mental illness are treated in New York City jails, and it couldn’t come at a better time — NYC is in the midst of proposing and implementing a wide range of criminal justice reforms aimed at addressing longstanding issues with violence and inhumane conditions in its jails.

For an hour, Brian and Mary spoke about solitary confinement, mental health, and human rights in America’s jails, including New York City’s infamous island jailhouse complex. Listen using the player below, or find our recordings on iTunes by searching for “Shadowproof Presents.”

On Thursday, November 19 at 7pm EST, Kevin Gosztola will talk with Kris Hermes, author of “Crashing the Party“:

Over the past fifteen years, people in the United States—and dissidents in particular—have witnessed a steady escalation of the National Security State, including invasive surveillance and infiltration, indiscriminate police violence, and unlawful arrests. These concerted efforts to spy on Americans and undermine meaningful social change are greatly enhanced by the coordination of numerous local, state, and federal agencies often operating at the behest of private corporations.

Normally associated with the realities of a post-9/11 world, “Crashing the Party” shows how these developments were already being set in motion during the Republican National Convention (RNC) protests in 2000. It also documents how, in response, dissidents confronted new forms of political repression by pushing legal boundaries and establishing new models of collective resistance.

Shadowproof Members get free access to all our events, buy anyone can buy tickets for just $5. These conversations are online and interactive — you just need a web browser and a ticket to join.

You can also help spread the word by RSVPing to our Facebook event and and inviting your friends.