Film Screening and Panel Discussion at RIC on “Racism, Police Brutality and Rebellion in Ferguson, Missouri”

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Thursday, March 29, at 6 p.m. in Alger Hall 110, Rhode Island College will present a screening of the documentary “Whose Streets?” followed by a panel discussion of scholars and community activists on “Racism, Police Brutality and Rebellion in Ferguson, Missouri.” This event is free and open to the public; however, seating is limited. Registration is required by clicking here.

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 is Mississippi-born activist and educator Marco McWilliams, a RIC alum (Class of 2016), who founded the Black Studies Freedom School in downtown Providence. Panelists are:

• 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 Sots.

This event is 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.

Established in 1854, Rhode Island College serves approximately 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students through its five schools: the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Business, the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work. For more information, visit www.ric.edu.

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