A screening of the documentary “Whose Streets?” was followed by a panel discussion of scholars and community activists on “Racism, Police Brutality and Rebellion in Ferguson, Missouri.”
On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown, 18, a black youth, was shot after stealing goods from a convenience store, then struggling with Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, a white man, through his squad car window. Brown fled the scene and Wilson followed, firing 12 shots at Brown, one of which killed him.
This documentary recounts what Ferguson’s black community saw and felt in the weeks that ensued, including the uprisings, protests and rioting. “Whose Streets” (2017), the directorial debut of community activist Sabaan Folayan, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Moderating the panel discussion was Mississippi-born activist and educator Marco McWilliams, a RIC alum (Class of 2016), who founded the Black Studies Freedom School in downtown Providence.
Panelists were:
- Sadhana Bery, Assistant Professor and Director of Africana Studies at RIC
- Charina Herrera, current RIC student, McNair Scholar and Africana Studies major
- Vincent Bohlinger, Associate Professor and Director of Film Studies at RIC
- Darryl Walker Jr., RIC alum (Class of 2013) and central committee member of Rhode Island Socialists
This event was sponsored by the American Democracy Project at RIC, the RIC Unity Center, RIC’s Open Books-Open Minds common book program and four local community organizations: Showing Up for Racial Justice (Attleboro and Providence areas), March for Racial Justice RI and Resist Oppression-Community for Social and Racial Justice. Funding was provided by RIC’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Committee on College Lectures.
Video: Whose Streets? Racism, Police Brutality and Rebellion in Ferguson, Missouri