Black activists and politicians have publicly chastised Princeton University's Dr. Cornel West for voicing strong opposition to many of the president's policies. But a top Democrat and loyal Obama supporter says that she welcomes West's analysis to help keep Democrats accountable.

The sound quality was poor, but the voice on the other end of the line was unmistakable: Mumia Abu-Jamal, a death row inmate, author and cultural icon, was phoning in from Greene State Correctional Institution in Waynesburg, Pa., to speak about the harsh disconnect prisoners face from society. To see video of the keynote address and panel discussions, visit the Multimedia Gallery.