Friday, March 21
The Basile Theatre in the Athenaeum
401 E. Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Press Conference (VIP 2 and Invite Only):
5:30 pm
Concert and Celebration:
Doors: 6:00 pm
Show Starts: 6:30 pm
Naptown! Pull up for unforgettable evening as we celebrate the two-year anniversary of Leon Benson’s exoneration and continue the struggle for all of our brothers and sisters still locked behind bars.
The evening opens with a press conference in which Benson will, for the first time, speak publicly about the lawsuit Benson and the victim’s sister, Kolleen Bunch, filed against the IMPD officers who framed Benson in May 2024. As a result of their actions,
After the press conference, doors open for a night of hope, love, hip hop, R&B, and Common-Unity!
The concert features performances by EL BENTLY 448 (aka Leon Benson), Mr. Ward317, Quano to Ready, Foosie, and King V—with special guest DJ DonDon.
All proceeds from the evening go to the two organizations behind the event: S.U.N. Families and the Indianapolis Liberation Center. celebration is not just about Benson’s freedom, but also about raising awareness and funds to support others who have been wrongfully convicted.
March 9 marks the two-year anniversary of Benson’s exoneration after he was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 25 years, 10 of those spent in solitary confinement. Every day, hour, and minute of those 25 years resulted from Indianapolis cops.
Benson was the first person to be exonerated by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit, largely thanks to the efforts of Kelly Bauder. He was also one of the first wrongfully imprisoned person exonerated by the University of San Francisco School of Law’s Racial Justice Clinic. The people were always with Benson, however.