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A line of inmates dressed in orange firefighting gear, digging a trench
Hammer Forum

Fighting Two Battles: Inside California’s Inmate Firefighting Program

Hammer Forum is made possible by the Rosenbloom Family

Among those fighting the L.A. fires earlier this year were incarcerated individuals participating in California’s controversial inmate firefighting program. This forum examines the program from the perspectives of formerly incarcerated firefighters, including issues around compensation and potential program reforms. Moderator Romarilyn Ralston, a black feminist abolitionist who served 23 years in prison and now leads the Justice Education Center for the Claremont Colleges, will guide a discussion with panelists Cody Ridley, Lead Captain of the Golden Eagles Hotshots at Sycuan Indian Reservation and a former inmate firefighter; Brooks Tims, combat veteran, EMT, and Lead Wildland Firefighter with the inmate firefighters program; and Amika Mota, Executive Director of Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and former incarcerated firefighter who authored a moving op-ed in Teen Vogue on her experiences.

ATTENDING THIS PROGRAM?

Ticketing: Admission is free. Your seat will be assigned to you when you pick up your ticket at the box office. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Box office opens one hour before the event.
Member Benefit: Subject to availability, Hammer Members can choose their preferred seats. Members receive priority ticketing until 15 minutes before the program. Learn more about membership.
Parking: Valet parking is available on Lindbrook Drive for $15 cash only. Self-parking is available under the museum. Rates are $8 for the first three hours with museum validation, and $3 for each additional 20 minutes, with a $22 daily maximum. There is an $8 flat rate after 6 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends.
Press: If you are a member of the press and are interested in attending and covering the program, please email Scott Tennent at stennent@hammer.ucla.edu for accommodations.

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Hammer Forum is an ongoing series of timely, thought-provoking discussions addressing current social and political issues.

All public programs are free and made possible by a major gift from an anonymous donor.
 
Generous support is also provided by Susan Bay Nimoy and Leonard Nimoy, the Elizabeth Bixby Janeway Foundation, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, an anonymous donor, and all Hammer members.
 
Digital presentation of Hammer public programs is made possible by The Billy and Audrey L. Wilder Foundation.
 
Hammer public programs are presented online in partnership with the #KeepThePromise campaign—a movement promoting social justice and human rights through the arts.