Panel Explores Ethics and Reform of California’s Inmate Firefighting Program
Formerly incarcerated firefighters will take center stage at the Hammer Museum on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., for a panel exploring California’s inmate firefighting program and the complex issues it raises around labor, justice, and reform.
Titled “Fighting Two Battles: Inside California’s Inmate Firefighting Program,” the forum is part of the Hammer Forum series, supported by the Rosenbloom Family and co-presented with the UCLA Center for the Study of Women. The evening promises a candid discussion on the realities of incarcerated individuals fighting wildfires, addressing topics such as compensation, rehabilitation, and post-release opportunities.
Guiding the conversation is Romarilyn Ralston, a black feminist abolitionist who spent 23 years in prison and now leads the Justice Education Center for the Claremont Colleges. Ralston, also the current Activist-in-Residence at UCLA’s Center for the Study of Women, brings lived experience and advocacy expertise to her role as moderator.
Joining her on the panel are Cody Ridley, Lead Captain of the Golden Eagles Hotshots at the Sycuan Indian Reservation and a former inmate firefighter, and Amika Mota, Executive Director of the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition. Mota, who also fought fires while incarcerated, has become a leading voice on reform and previously authored a powerful op-ed in Teen Vogue reflecting on her experience.
Free to the public, the event offers seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be distributed at the box office, which opens one hour prior to the program. Hammer Members are eligible for priority ticketing and preferred seating up to 15 minutes before the event begins, subject to availability.
Valet parking is offered on Lindbrook Drive for $15 (cash only). Self-parking is available beneath the museum at a rate of $8 for the first three hours with validation, and $3 for every additional 20 minutes, with a $22 daily maximum. After 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and throughout the weekend, parking is available at a flat rate of $8.
