Live phone conversation and book reading with Dwayne “Bim” Staats on prison resistance and the Vaughn 17 uprising.
Dwayne “Bim” Staats brings his story to Milwaukee for a book presentation that goes beyond the usual author talk. The event centers on the Vaughn 17 uprising and the realities of incarceration, with Staats joining live by phone to share his perspective and answer questions. You’ll hear the prologue of his book, "Rebellious Hearts," and get a window into the lived experience of resistance from inside the prison system.
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This isn’t just a reading—it’s a chance to engage directly with the author and a community that cares about justice and solidarity. The discussion is open to all ages and is free to attend, making it accessible for anyone who wants to learn or contribute. If you’re curious about the Vaughn 17 case or want to hear from someone who’s lived through it, this is a rare opportunity.
A book presentation and discussion with Dwayne “Bim” Staats, author of Rebellious Hearts Join us at Cactus Club for a book presentation and community discussion with Dwayne “BIM” Staats, one of the revolutionaries connected to the Vaughn 17 case in Delaware. We will gather to listen to the book’s prologue, learn about the Vaughn 17 uprising, and engage in a live phone conversation and discussion with the author. The Vaughn 17 case emerged from the 2017 uprising at Vaughn Correctional Center and continues to raise urgent questions about incarceration, solitary confinement, and the conditions that led to collective resistance inside the prison system. This event centers incarcerated voices and invites reflection on the realities of imprisonment, systemic violence, and the importance of solidarity across prison walls and communities. Rebellious Hearts is a narration of a personal evolution igniting a revolution. While serving a life sentence at an antiquated prison in Smyrna, Delaware. Dwayne “Bim” Staats still maintained enough pride to search for his purpose in life. He vowed to never let incarceration be an excuse to not maximizing his potential. Unfortunately, this mentality was in conflict with a system that reduces prisoners to animals. Reform, rehabilitation or correction was never the agenda. Their only practice was absolute control enforced by physical, mental & emotional abuse. The prison administration eventually discovered that some “animals” can’t be domesticated, and instead of being broken or frightened. They’ll attack, fight, claw, growl and roar to the end!
