Join BRIC For A Forum On Race, Policing & Civil Rights

Civilian-police relations are no new concern in New York City, but the topic does seem to have been placed under an increasing number of media magnifying glasses lately. The deaths of Eric Garner and Mike Brown; a report of police telling black teenagers to get out of Park Slope; footage of a pregnant woman in a scuffle with cops; even today’s newly-released video of a surrendering suspect in Bed Stuy being pistol whipped; all are reasons to start or continue thinking critically about the current state of policing–especially in regards to race–in New York and the US. As such, Fort Greene’s own BRIC plans to discuss such issues at their October 14 forum, Race, Policing, and Civil Rights: A Community Town Hall.

The event, to be held from 7-8:30pm at 647 Fulton Street (corner of Rockwell Place), will include panelists Lumumba Bandele, Senior Community Organizer of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement; City Councilmember Jumaane Williams; Race Forward Executive Director and Colorlines publisher Rinku Sen; Medgar Evers College Center for Law & Social Justice Executive Director Esmeralda Simmons; Arab American Association Executive Director Linda Sarsour; and National Latino Officers Association of America President Anthony Miranda. The discussion will be moderated by Brian Vines, and in true BRIC fashion, will include a performance by John Robinson.

Race, Policing, and Civil Rights: A Community Town Hall is free, but you’ll have to register ahead of time. If you’re unable to make it, know that BRIC says this is the first in a series of similar planned discussions, and that you can still submit questions via social media to be answered at the event (which will be broadcast) using the hashtag #BHeard.