Teach-Out™
Police Brutality in America Teach-Out
This Teach-Out has been archived from the original teach-out event, which concluded on July 20, 2020. While you may browse and skip between units, we recommend completing lessons in the order they’re presented.
About This Teach-Out
The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have sparked a wave of renewed protests against police brutality across the United States. These nationwide uprisings have transformed into an intense interest from the public around understanding systemic racism and abuse of power. Millions of Americans and people around the world are watching incidents of police violence and excessive force captured on video, but are looking to learn about the inequalities at the root of these incidents. While the calls of Black Lives Matter protesters to #DefundThePolice are being heard for the first time by many Americans, they are part of a longstanding effort by communities and activists to reinvest in communities rather than policing and prisons. In this Teach-Out, you will learn about the history of police violence in America, become aware of laws and policies that prevent accountability, understand the demands of protesters, and gain the knowledge and tools to fight for change locally.
This Teach-Out will answer:
- What are the historical roots of police violence in the United States?
- How do systemic racism and abuse of power contribute to police violence?
- What are the key laws and policies that prevent accountability in cases of police brutality?
- What are the demands of the Black Lives Matter protesters, and what do they mean by #DefundThePolice?
- How can individuals gain the knowledge and tools to effectively advocate for change in their local communities?
Instructors
No instructors specified.
Lessons
Welcome to the Police Brutality in America Teach-Out
History & Evolution of Policing in America
Understanding the Impact of Police Violence
- I Am So Tired
- Eugene Rogers: Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
- Elizabeth James: The Impact of Systemic Racism
- Lauren Velez - Introduction to Avalon Housing
- Lauren Velez - Avalon Housing Client Story
- LaBresha Scott- Avalon Housing Client Story
- Ryan Henyard: Say Her Name
- Charles Buchanan: Black Trans Lives Matter
- The Talk: Conversations among Black Families
- Challenge: Write a 6 Word Story
- Understanding the Impact of Police Violence - Additional Resources
The State of Modern Policing
- Barbara McQuade: Qualified Immunity
- Barbara McQuade: Pattern or Practice
- Sheriff Derrick Jackson: Six Pillars of Changing Policing
- Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang: Social Work and Policing Partnerships
- Lisa Jackson: How Does Police Oversight Work?
- The State of Modern Policing in America - Additional Resources
Policing, Media, and Culture
- Eugene Rogers: Arts and Activism
- Aaron Foley: The Journalism Industry
- Aaron Foley: The Role of Black Media Outlets
- Aaron Foley: The Complex Relationship Between Police and the Media
- Ketra Armstrong: The Role of Sport in Social Justice Movements
- Ketra Armstrong: Lessons from Colin Kaepernick
- Policing, Media, and Culture - Additional Resources
Responding to Police Brutality
- Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Systemic Racism as a Public Health Issue
- Kathleen Meadows - Avalon’s Alternative Response to Policing
- Lisa Jackson: Community Oversight in Policing at the Local Level
- Sheriff Derrick Jackson: A Sheriff's Perspective on Police Reform
- Kathleen Meadows - Avalon’s Additional Resources
- Lauren Velez - Avalon Housing Resident's Feedback to Police
- Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang: Limits of Legislative Police Reform
- Responding to Police Brutality: Additional Resources
Take Action in Your Own Context
- Ryan Henyard: Taking Action Against Police Brutality in Your Community
- Lisa Jackson: Taking Action at the Community Level
- Taking Community Action: Flower Boi STL
- Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang: How to get involved with your elected officials
- Elizabeth James: Survival Techniques for Movement Building
- Taking Action to End Police Brutality | What’s next?
- Take Action
- Learn and Listen
- Have Discussions
- Take Care of Yourself
- Community Guide: Facilitate a Conversation in Your Community