In collaboration with the 30th annual Ira C. Rothgerber Conference on constitutional law, Motus Theater presents JustUs: Stories from the Frontlines of the Criminal Legal System. Motus JustUs monologists Dereck Bell, Juaquin Mobley, and Colette Payne, will read aloud their powerful autobiographical stories artfully depicting their experiences within the criminal legal system. Suzette Malveaux, Director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law at the University of Colorado Law School will read aloud the personal story of a JustUs monologist and then reflect on the monologue from the legacy of systemic racism and slavery. International award-winning slam poet Dominique Christina will offer a poetic response to the monologues. Interwoven between each monologue will be a musical response by Colorado’s famed Spirit of Grace - a cappella social justice singers. Their healing music will help us reflect on current injustices within the system and allow us to imagine opportunities for true justice.

Suzette Malveaux is Provost Professor of Civil Rights Law and Director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law at the University of Colorado Law School. She was recently elected to the American Law Institute. She has published numerous law review articles that explore the intersection of civil procedure and civil rights and co-authored Class Actions and Other Multi-Party Litigation.

The JustUs project was developed by Motus Theater in 2019 and premiered as a keynote at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Conference in front of 1,600 stakeholders. Since then, the JustUs monologues have been featured in several national and global conferences and have been read and embraced by religious, social justice, civic, and law enforcement leaders across the state. The powerful monologues explore themes such as racial profiling, inequality in the bond/bail system, human rights abuses in prisons, criminalizing substance abusers, and the systemic racism and poverty that pushes people into illicit economies.

Autobiographical monologues by Motus Monologists Dereck Bell, Juaquin Mobley, and Colette Payne, written in collaboration with Motus Theater Artistic Director, Kirsten Wilson. Performance presented by Motus Theater - creators of UndocuAmerica, JustUs, Women of Resolution, Rocks Karma Arrows, and the Shoebox Stories Podcast.

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