When They See Us: Communities in Conversation

We're proud to have led efforts to present the Communities in Conversation film screening and panel discussion of "When They See Us" on November 16, 2019. Over 500 people attended the event at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.

Through our partnership with Mississippi Blvd., the National Civil Rights Museum and Just City, we were able to include Raymond Santana, one of the Exonerated Five, on the panel.

When They See Us is a docu-series created and directed by director Ava DuVernay. It chronicles the 1989 case where five teen-aged boys of color were wrongfully charged and convicted of the rape and assault of a Central Park female jogger in New York City. The series highlights the injustices of the criminal justice system, juvenile detention and its impact on the community. 

Chief Phyllis Aluko shared insight on relevant juvenile justice issues, the role of parents and how the community can become more involved. Fellow panelists included Senator Raumesh Akbari, Dr. Duane Lyons of Rhodes College, and Raymond Santana.