How do we demilitarize the police to have more justice?

We'll have a kitchen table conversation about institutional racism, police de-militarization, and incarceration rates. Countries discussed are US and any country where participants live. The primary film to watch in preparation is 13th, which is on Netflix and free on YouTube (see below). The purpose of watching the film is to have a common starting point for the conversation. We address the topic question by sharing your own experiences and stories.

Format:

1) Please watch the film highlighted below before the event.

2) We'll have a conversation about the topic question.

If you registered, you will be emailed a link to meet online for the conversation event 24 hours beforehand.

Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours (Note: We may go past 90 minutes if the conversation is still flowing and people have something to say).

Before the event:

Watch 13th documentary on Netflix. It's currently free on YouTube here.

Optional Sources:

1. US: Article here: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop (21 min read) - a detailed description of the system cops live in.
2. Doc film here: Do Not Resist 2016 (3 clips)
3. Feature Film here: Just Mercy (currently free)
4. US: Criminal Justice Fact Sheet here: Incarceration Stats in the USA, NAACP
5. Trevor Noah Explains How Society has Broken its Social Contract here (6 min)
6. US: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver video here on Policing in the US . (Most powerful part by Kimberly Jones at 31.40 min)
7. US: How the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has profited from every part of the criminal justice system here (7 min).
8. Canada - (Opinion) 'Black police officers who complain about anti-Black racism endure punishment'. Maclean's Mag article here
9. US: Omar Epps and Desmond Meade explain how our broken political system is making the problem worse here (8 min)
10. US: Hasan And Keith Ellison On Justice For George Floyd | Patriot Act here.(31 min).
11. US: First Degree follows three inmates as they pursue degrees (using private funds), mentor at-risk youth, and prepare for life on the outside. The documentary film here. (24 min)

Audience: 16+ years old - Anyone open to listening and hearing different opinions & inclusive of any race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

Number of Attendees: About 10 people.

Arrival Time: Please arrive 5 minutes before the start time. The online meeting room will be open 10 minutes before the start time.

Technical requirements:

We will use Zoom. It is preferred to use a stationary tablet or computer/laptop.

Deadline: Registration will close 3 hours before the start time. If you have a ticket and cannot attend, please email the organizer at least 24 hours before the event so someone else can take your spot.

Event Organizer: Flavian DeLima

What is a Kitchen Table Conversation

A Kitchen Table Conversation is an informal dialogue around a big question. It happens in a safe and comfortable space where - like a Kitchen Party - it is easy to disagree, air differences of opinions, be funny, confirm or repudiate assumptions, and find new and innovative ways to observe or resolve a problem. The most important part of a conversation is to respect everyone around the table.

Flavian is the host and will facilitate the conversation. Participants do most of the talking.

Tips for a great conversation:

Watch the video below if you want 10 tips to have better conversations by Celeste Headlee (12-minutes).

If you've created or written something related to the topic, we'd like to promote it.

• Tremayne is a friend of Flavian's cousin, Eric . Both Tremayne and Eric are joining this conversation event. Tremayne is a Toronto grown alternative hip-hop artist. His music explores the interpersonal workings of the artist mind, the bleeding heart, and the human experience. A song he wrote recently on this topic with an explanation is posted on Instagram here.