March 26, 2025

ASU Law’s First Amendment Clinic helps author secure interview with civil rights leader behind bars

When author Arun Kundnani couldn’t secure an interview with jailed civil rights leader Jamil Al-Amin, formerly H. Rap Brown, he turned to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University’s First Amendment Clinic for assistance. The clinic helped him gain access to the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson to meet with Al-Amin.

 

Kundnani is currently writing a biography about Al-Amin, who he describes as a forgotten figure in history despite his role in the 1960s civil rights movement. Al-Amin, once a member in the Black Panther Party, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2002 for the killing of a law enforcement officer in Atlanta.

 

Kundnani first encountered Al-Amin’s story nearly eight years ago and felt compelled to share it. Determined to write the biography, he began interviewing people who had worked with Al-Amin and combing through archives for more information. However, the most important piece of the puzzle was talking directly to Al-Amin and hearing his side of the story. 

 

“When you're writing about someone who is still alive, you want to talk to them also,” Kundnani said.

 

In 2021, Kundnani began submitting interview requests to the prison where Al-Amin was housed, but each request was denied. When other avenues also failed, Kundnani turned to the Cornell First Amendment Clinic for help. Given that Al-Amin was incarcerated in Arizona, the ASU Law First Amendment Clinic became involved.

 

“We decided to get involved because an author came to us with an important First Amendment issue, and we knew we could be helpful in a way that the author probably couldn’t be alone,” explained Gregg Leslie, executive director of the First Amendment Clinic. “A threat to sue over deprivation of a right is much stronger when it comes from counsel.”

 

Together, the clinics argued that denying Kundnani access to Al-Amin violated his First Amendment rights as a writer. Four ASU clinic students drafted the letter to prison officials, spelling out how the prison’s actions violated the First Amendment. Cornell students drafted a complaint, ready to be filed in federal court if the prison denied the interview. Shortly after presenting their case, the prison granted the interview.

 

“I don’t think they would have responded if it wasn’t for the help of Cornell or ASU Law,” Kundnani said.

 

With the legal support, Kundnani was able to spend eight hours interviewing Al-Amin, a pivotal moment that moved the biography forward.

 

In 2025, after conducting additional interviews and continuing his research, Kundnani sought another meeting with Al-Amin to ask follow-up questions. However, he encountered the same roadblocks as before, leading him back to the clinics for help. Two new ASU Law students were brought into the case to draft another letter to prison officials.

 

“It was necessary to shift them to allow me to have access once again, and that has led to me spending another couple of hours with Al-Amin,” Kundnani said. “This project has been totally transformed as a result of the help I've had from ASU Law’s First Amendment Clinic.”

 

The work of the ASU Law First Amendment Clinic is vital, not only helping authors like Kundnani gain access to important sources but also in safeguarding the constitutional rights that protect free expression and the exchange of ideas. 

 

Kundnani’s book is expected to be published in 2026.

 

Written by Crystal Jimenez