ISSC Symposium: Ending Torture in Our Name
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: St. Charles Faith + Action Center, New Orleans, LA
The Impacted Solitary Survivors Council (ISSC) invites you to join us for the Symposium: Ending Torture in Our Name — a groundbreaking gathering focused on ending the use of solitary confinement and other forms of state-sanctioned torture.
This annual symposium brings together survivors, advocates, scholars, policymakers, and community members to explore the devastating impacts of solitary confinement and to advance real solutions.
Agenda Highlights
- Powerful Keynotes & Panels – Hear from directly impacted survivors who have turned their pain into purpose, as well as experts in law, mental health, and human rights.
- Interactive Workshops – Engage in solution-driven sessions to explore policy reforms, community reintegration strategies, and advocacy tools.
- Memorial Ceremony – Honor and remember those who perished in solitary confinement and recommit to ending this practice in their names.
- Journey to Justice Tour Bus – Tour the Smithsonian-style interactive mobile museum created by award-winning producers and directly impacted leaders, open throughout the event for a unique educational experience.
- Art & Storytelling – Experience photography, film, and live storytelling that give voice to those most affected and make the human cost of solitary impossible to ignore.
- Community Building & Networking – Connect with other participants committed to justice reform and build momentum to create lasting change.
Why It Matters
Solitary confinement is one of the most extreme forms of punishment used in the U.S., causing lifelong harm and failing to promote safety or rehabilitation. The ISSC Symposium is a call to action to restore humanity, demand accountability, and create a future where no one is tortured in our name.
About ISSC
The Impacted Solitary Survivors Council is a coalition led by survivors of solitary confinement working to end long-term isolation in Louisiana and beyond. Together with allies, ISSC is leading the movement to change policy, elevate survivor voices, and transform public understanding of solitary confinement.
Join us on October 4th as we honor the courage of survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and mobilize for a future where dignity and healing replace isolation and harm.