Freedom First: A Jazz Benefit Concert for Keith LaMar - YOUNGSTOWN

While confronting a legal system that aims to M**der him Jan. 13,2026, jazz artists are joining Keith LaMar's struggle to regain his freedom
About this Event

Ohio Nonviolence Week is Proud to Present...

Freedom First Youngstown on October 9, 2026!

Freedom First began as a concert series in the summer of 2020 on the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan shortly after the M**der of George Floyd, and at a time the country was shut down due to Covid. The aim of these beautiful shows has been to raise public awareness of yet another grave injustice being done in our names, and to seek support for the Campaign for Justice for Keith LaMar while we still can...

Keith LaMar is a WRONGFULLY-CONVICTED Black man who faces state-sanctioned M**der for crimes he can prove he did not commit—his execution date has been reset for January 13, 2027 (his original date was November 16, 2023!).

Keith is still breathing. Let's not wait for him to become a hashtag.

For the first time ever, we are bringing this incredible jazz concert to Youngstown, the city where Keith has been held in solitary confinement since 1998, when the Ohio State Penitentiary Supermax finally was done being constructed. We'll be joined by a band of provocative and gifted contemporary artists who will play music from the first ever album in history created and recorded by someone on death row, aptly titled FREEDOM FIRST, as well as new songs off their 2nd album, LIVE from Death Row. We are excited to be joined for vocals by one of Youngstown's finest musicians, the incredible Nikita Jones. The other members of Freedom First will be: Chris Coles on alto sax, Jordan McBride on double bass, Zaire Darden on drums, Albert Marquès on piano, and, of course, Keith LaMar calling in live from his Pr*son cell on Ohio's death row (where he has spent over three decades!). Keith, an avid jazz lover, lends his soulful and heart-wrenching spoken-word poetry to some of his favorite tunes and several new original pieces written for/with him. In spite of these unimaginably difficult years of torture, he continues to shine a bright light into the world, teaching, motivating, and loving people with great intention. We hope that you will join us in our support as we strive to get Justice for Keith LaMar.

Learn more:

Read: Article about Freedom First at Pomona College in 2023:
https://truthout.org/articles/from-death-row-keith-lamar-has-built-a-movement-for-love-art-and-abolition/

Read: New York Times article about Freedom First:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/11/arts/music/keith-lamar-death-row-freedom-first.html

Watch: Democracy Now! With Amy Goodman:
Part 1 and Part 2

Listen: Jason Flom’s Wrongful Conviction Podcast:
Part 1 - Episode 379 and Part 2 - Episode 380

Listen: The Real Killer Podcast:
Season 2 (11 Episodes)

Listen: Truer Crime Podcast with Celisia Stanton:
Bonus Episode (recommended)| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Sponsored By:

• Jack Cessna, Founder of the Youngstown Peace Race
• Sojourn to the Past, under the direction of Penny Wells

With Special Thanks:

• St. John's Episcopal Church of Youngstown

Learn more about Keith's story at: www.keithlamar.org

#loveistheonlyfreedom #justiceforkeithlamar