What is Black August and the FilmFest Named After It? The inaugural Black August Film Festival, zooming in on what Frantz Fanon called “the wretched of the Earth” and their opposition to systemic racism, took place in Pasadena, California, August 13-14. Unlike other Black-themed filmfests that may screen socially conscious...

After news broke of the investigation into Trump under the Espionage Act, we reached out to speak with Espionage Act expert, John Kiriakou to tell us what the act is about and who is really punished under it. John is a member of the Editorial Board of CovertAction Magazine and was himself charged and sent to prison under the Espionage Act for exposing the CIA’s torture program. Also, this month is Black August. Begun in the 1970s, Black August is a month to commemorate political prisoners. For prisoners, it is a month of political education. It marks the anniversary of the killing of George Jackson and his brother Jonathan P. Jackson at San Quentin State Prison in 1971 and 1970, respectively. We’re joined by Charisse Burden-Stelly, or Dr. CBS, to discuss the legacy, the lessons that liberation movements can learn today from Black August, the importance of the principles of "study, fast, train, fight" and uplifts the call to free them all - end the incarceration of and creation of new political prisoners today.