Hey, you know what’s not at all a contentious issue in New York City? Race. You know what also isn’t a contentious issue in New York City? The police. Oh no wait, those are actually really contentious issues in New York City, our mistake. Instead of just sitting on the sidelines while the city simmers and waits to blow up in retaliation of another instance of police being too aggressive, BRIC is holding a free town hall tonight at the BRIC House (647 Fulton Street) on the issues of race, policing and civil rights.
So as it turns out, despite the fact that we elected Barack Obama president twice, we’re still not a bunch of post-racial angels only worried about the human race instead of individual races. Will we ever be? Eh, maybe not, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to be so awful as to sit back and do nothing as teens get knocked out for no reason or pregnant women get shoved over or guys selling loosies die while being choked. So, head on over to BRIC tonight at 7pm and you can hear a distinguished panel talk about how to prevent stuff like that and chime in with your own thoughts if you have them.
The panel will include Esmerelda Simmons of the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, Rinku Sen, publisher of Colorlines, Lumumba Bandele from the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Linda Sarsour of the Arab American Association, Anthony Miranda of the Latino Officers Association and City Council member Juumane Williams (who’s had his own screwed up police encounter). Will they solve racism forever? Probably not, but what if they do and you miss it?