CHAOS OR COMMUNITY

A Play by 56 High School Seniors

Editing Writers:
Aly Bouscaren
Zoila Marquez
Gavino Marquez
Nadia Mehretab
Victoria Balcom

Scene Directors:
Isaiah Alexander
Aly Bouscaren
Anthony Cadena
Melissa Concepcion
Emilio Lopez-Gallo Caloca
Zoila Marquez
Gavino Marquez
Nadia Mehretab
Victoria Balcom
SCENE ONE:

CHAOS: STUDENTS TRICKLE ON STAGE IN SETS OF 4 UNTIL

EVERYONE IS ON STAGE. ALL ARE WALKING AROUND THE STAGE
SAYING THEIR MONOLOGUES OVER EACH OTHER, MAKING CHAOTIC
HAND MOVEMENTS ACCORDING TO THEIR MONOLOGUE. CLEARLY NO ONE
IS LISTENING TO EACH OTHER. THE NOISE INCREASES, NO ONE
LOOKS AT EACH OTHER, JUST YELL AT CEILING OR AUDIENCE, NO
ONE UNDERSTANDS ANYONE

ERNESTO: AHH (SCREAMS IN TERROR THEN EVERYONE IS SILENT,

FREEZE INTO TABLEAU)

MAIN LIGHTS OUT, SPOTLIGHT ON JUAN OROZCO, WHO STEPS

DOWNSTAGE FROM FROZEN CROWD TO DELIVER HIS LINES.

JUAN OROZCO

Does racism still exist? Yeah, of course it does. No one,

and I mean no one, says it doesn't. So how could we assume
its not present in law enforcement? I grew up in these
neighborhoods of the Southeastern communities of San Diego
and just two weeks ago I got pulled over on the corner BY
my house. Supposedly for a tail light, but you know --and I
know-- that they were racially profiling me and my friend
who was helping me do some yard work, but its interesting
how, you know, there was no justification cause the
officers were coming from the opposite direction, but they
made a U-turn to pull us over. I hear it at work, I hear it
everywhere, and I think the contemporary climate of the
elections is allowing people to be more upfront about it,
but its always been there. I think we dont acknowledge
it, or we dont believe that it exists, but its there.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND JUAN REMAINS STANDING front, but FROZEN

IN TABLEAU. SOME STUDENTS LEAVE THE STAGE AND OFFICER JH
STANDS UP MIDSTAGE LEFT. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON OFFICER J H
AND HE DELIVERS HIS LINES.)

OFFICER J. H.

I would say that if anything the media, and sometimes

perceptions of the Black Lives Matter movement has made it
more difficult or dangerous to be a police officer in our
community because I think people are trying to get involved
with situations that they don't really understand the goal
of. So they just jump on board with certain parts of the

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movement, but dont understand its goal as a whole, and by
doing that they will often times interrupt investigations
or become uncooperative while we are trying to handle
situations. They wont comply with our orders because they
think that because of black lives matter they don't have to
listen to what we tell them, so it just puts police
officers and the public at risk. I think the only thing
that weve seen out here is the public being more negative
towards law enforcement and make it difficult to do our
job.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND OFFICER JH FREEZES IN TABLEAU. SOME

STUDENTS LEAVE THE STAGE AND MACK STANDS UP MIDSTAGE RIGHT.
SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON MACK.)

MACK
The reality of Philando Castille and all of these people
that were just brought to our attention this summer, thats
a reality for their entire lives. Berkeley became more of a
community for me because prior to my involvement in the
riots and the marches this summer I have to say that I
really wasnt that much of an activist. I really didnt
take the necessary steps to involve myself to create change
or raise awareness, I kind of just did my part as a person.
So, this summer took the racial relations and the attention
that Ive experienced in college to a new level because now
people are seeing with their own eyes something that you
cant deny.Somebody who was murdered on camera based on the
color of their skin, they werent given a fair chance, they
were murdered. So, people were forced to think Okay, this
is happening... so what am I going to do about it?

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND MACK REMAINS FROZEN IN TABLEAU. SOME

STUDENTS LEAVE THE STAGE AND SARA ISLAS STANDS UP DOWNSTAGE
LEFT. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON SARA ISLAS.)

SARA I
My dad and I were driving in my neighborhood in his truck.
He had a lot of tools in the back and his truck looked kind
of beat up because he does a lot of construction and
landscaping. Then the cops put on their lights, stopped us
and were asking us questions and asking us to show ID and
my dad asked why are we being stopped and the cop said
Ill tell you in a second. Then my mom drove up behind us
and got out, and my mom is very caucasian looking and she
was like excuse me thats my husband and we live two
blocks away from here and the cop immediately changed his
tone and said- Oh! Im sorry I had no idea- and my mom
was like Well what did you think? Why were you stopping
them?and he couldnt answer.Being biracial, Im able to
see both sides and like live both sides, and its
interesting being a traveler in both worlds. So yeah, just

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from a young age I realized things werent fair for all
groups of people.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND ISLAS REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS

LEAVE THE STAGE AND DUANE BENNETT STANDS UP DOWNSTAGE
RIGHT. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON DUANE BENNETT.)

DUANE B
Yes, I represented Rodney King, and its interesting to
compare cases for black people and white people. When the
police stopped Dylan Roof, he was reported to be armed and
dangerous, he had murdered nine people. He is white. When
the police approached him, one of the officers pulled out a
gun, then they put the gun back, he wasnt taken to the
ground like Rodney King, he wasnt choked out like Eric
Garner, he wasnt shot like Tamir Rice, they took him out
into the car casually, he said he was hungry and they took
him to Burger King to get him some food. He was a white man
that killed nine African Americans through a terrorist act.
This is not an indictment to police officers, a vast
majority of police officers are great people. But, what we
dont recognize in the law, is the fact there is a
stereotypical notion that goes into governmental context
with people of color. Were just not viewed the same.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND BENNETT REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS

LEAVE THE STAGE AND MARIE WALDEN STANDS UP DOWNSTAGE
CENTER. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON MARIE WALDEN.)

MARIE w
Well, I have a different point of view because I know from
my husbands experience-- who is in law enforcement-- that
what you see on T.V., is just a snippet, its never the
entire story. Lets say hypothetically the video that gets
shown on t.v. What happened before? We dont always know.
We see an officer do something inappropriate and we see
what happens after, nobody knows what led up to that. I
know that the portrayals are not 100% true--youre not
showing the bigger picture. The same with stories, theyre
never going to tell you all the facts. Theyre only going
to tell you what theyre told because they cant reveal
everything for many reasons. Law enforcement cant reveal
everything, so *BREATHES HEAVILY* The stories we see are
biased, I think they are, but I only say that because what
I have lived and seen. Like, something will happen on the
news that my husband knows, and hell say Oh, thats not
the entire story. This is what really happened. And Im
like, Oh okay.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND MRS.WALDEN REMAINS STANDING. SOME

STUDENTS LEAVE THE STAGE AND ALY BOUSCAREN STANDS IN THE

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MIDDLE OF BENNETT AND MRS. WALDEN. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON ALY
BOUSCAREN.)
Aly
I have always felt out of place. Im Mexican, but I look
white-- classic in between-er. I have both rejected and
yearned for my culture. I never noticed that it meant
something to be a Mexican until my White grandmother
pointed out the Mexican kids as though there was
something distasteful about them. I decided when I was
little that I didnt want to be a Mexican. After all I was
a Guera, my fair skin and green eyes allowed me to pretend
my Mexican-ness did not exist at all. But in middle school,
I was surrounded by kids who expressed their culture
proudly and it was really beautiful. I felt for the first
time, that I was not Mexican enough. I felt like an
imposter, a Taco Bell Mexican. But now that I embrace my
culture, I know that there is something off about the way
some people view brown and black people, and I realize that
some of the problems we are watching in the media with
respect to injustice toward them might be connected to
those views that I grew up hearing. It makes me sad but
also hopeful, because if I can change, so can anyone else,
you know?

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND ALY REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS

LEAVE THE STAGE AND MEGAN GREEN STANDS UPSTAGE LEFT.
SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON MEGAN GREEN.)

MEGAN GREEN
What do I think of Black Lives Matter? Sure, I think that
in the beginning , I was, umm, not angry, but I was just
kinda irritated by it because I thought, Do what the
police officers are asking you to do and stuff like this
won't happen. Its not a racist thing. But then we saw on
the news, you know the gentleman from Minnesota, Philando
Castile, who was doing exactly what the police officer was
telling him to do and he got shot.But then on the flip side
there was that gentleman in chicago, the guy was ramming
police cars, running over the policeman and he gets shot.
Well yeah, stop your car. But here in Milwaukee, You know,
with Sylville Smith, they talk a lot about he was a good
kid, he was really one of the top high school students, he
had good grades, he didnt really get into that much
trouble until he was out of high school. So it's a very
interesting divide and I do have sympathy for Black Lives
Matter. But, at the same time,everybody matters, so, let's
focus on everybody.

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(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND MEGAN REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS
LEAVE THE STAGE AND MEGAN GREEN STANDS UPSTAGE RIGHT.
SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON MEGAN GREEN.)

DOUG THOMPSON
Why do I think that being a part of an all white racial
justice group matters? Well, I think racial justice is
everyones concern. Also, racism and the conversations
around law enforcement has been getting more and more
difficult for people to talk about. To get people who have
different points of view to talk to one another, and to
listen to one another is challenging. Most of the time what
happens now is we dont talk to people who disagree with
us, we just talk to the people that think like we think.
And that doesnt change much of anything and it doesnt
result in anything really getting done to move forward.
There is very little that they can agree on and theyre not
willing to talk to each other anymore or to come up with
compromise since everyone is saying I'm not willing to
compromise with anyone. Thats what we need to do-- talk to
each other.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND DOUG REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS

LEAVE THE STAGE AND LEILA KIRKENDALL STANDS DOWNSTAGE RIGHT
IN BETWEEN RILEY AND JUAN].SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON LEILA
KIRKENDALL.)

LEILA K
I think Ive always been aware of my race. I got to the new
school, and um, my reading and my mathematic levels were
too high for the teacher, she didnt believe that I should
be that smart, so I would have class by myself in a closet
and everyone else would be in the classroom. And I didnt
know at the time in fifth grade I was about seven or eight
maybe--My mom was like Look, she dont like the fact that
you are... You know? and I was like Oh. So, maybe for
the first time I had a negative connotation about my race,
or understood what negative views might exist, but I think
Ive always known my race.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND LEILA REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS

LEAVE THE STAGE AND TJ STANDS DOWNSTAGE RIGHT IN BETWEEN
OFFICER AND JUAN]. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON TJ.)

TJ P (Chi-Tech Teacher)
Um, yeah I teach in Chicago, on the South Side. My students
have had difficult interactions with the police. I find
that I have better conversations with the kids one on one,
outside of class-- as a person not necessarily as a
teacher, you know? It lets students know that there are
adults that care for them and want to make sure that they
can navigate the world safely and as securely as possible.

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So, I'm still looking for a good way to facilitate
conversations about racial injustice in the classroom, but
often kids don't like to share those stories because a lot
of kids in our school have had family members and friends
who've been killed-- some by gang related violence, others
by police officers, so they don't often like to talk about
it.

Markaya/ Joseph/ TJ CHI-TECH STUDENTs

Here in Chicago, I think there are good cops and bad cops.
Like there is no crime being committed and they just come
up and bother you. And theres nothin we can do cuz they
have all the power. Even if we do say we want change, we
workin on change, its not like theyre going to change.
They gon act like they listenin and then itll be back to
business. [pause] This one time, it was real windy day in
Chicago and I was at Pence waiting at the bus stop, here
they have glass around the buses you know cuz its cold
when you waiting and they are covered in glass. And the
wind blew so hard it busted the glass and whatever. An then
the PO-lice officer came and grabbed me-- he wasnt
aggressive or anything, really-- but he said we have to
get rid of your kind and all that kinda stuff and they did
take me to custody and I had to wait in the holding cell to
get picked up by my mom because the Police wouldnt listen
to me. I twas right here, and they took me to jail, it was
right here by school. And I was just waiting for the bus.

ISAIAH a
I know that racism exists. My mother and I came home to a
front lawn covered with trash one day. We were confused,
but then the mailbox explained it all. It was spray painted
go back to Africa, niggers. Looking at my moms face of
disbelief and sadness made me cry. It wasnt that kind of
crying when you dont get what you want, it was the crying
that comes from when your heart feels like its sinking. I
hated to see my mom like this. Even when I was little, I
knew I always wanted to protect her from everything.
Knowing I couldnt do anything still makes me cry today.
(HAVE KNEELING STUDENTS DO MIMING OR INTERPRETIVE DANCE ON
SIDE OF SPEAKER TO REPRESENT WHAT IS READ)
Moments like those are when I want to take on all the
burden of my family because I hate to see others cry. The
neighborhood we called home, was taken from my family that
day. My eyes were ripped wide open. I saw that I could be
hated by some for just the color of my skin,
I try to treat others how I want to be treated. I want to
be liked by everyone but knowing thats impossible makes my

6
heart break. I always try to keep that memory in the back
of my head, and when I bring it up I always think it wont
make me sad but it does.

SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND ISAIAH REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS

LEAVE THE STAGE AND JAMELLE JONES STANDS DOWNSTAGE RIGHT IN
BETWEEN OFFICER AND JUAN]. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON JAMELLE
JONES.)

JAMELLE J
Every night my dad goes out, I worry for his life. Like I
literally worry for his life. I think every day he could be
killed. [pause] Is he a police officer? No, no. Hes a
black man. And thats dangerous you know. We all know.
Thats why theres a rally cry for Black Lives Matter, and
its not just Black people who know it.

(SPOTLIGHT DIMS AND JAMELLE REMAINS STANDING. SOME STUDENTS

LEAVE THE STAGE AND ASHLEY HILL STANDS UPSTAGE
CENTER/RIGHT. SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON ASHLEY HILL.)

ASHLEY H
I kiss Jake every time he leaves for work because every
night it could be our last. We have had three friends
killed in the line of duty in the past two years. Police
officers go out and go after bad guys and sometimes they
die. So, its something I worry about all the time. So yes,
when I see black lives matter, I immediately want to say
police lives matter too.

(LIGHTS UP ON ALL ACTORS FROZEN. NEWCASTINGS OF POLICE

SHOOTINGS PLAY ON SCREEN BEHIND ALL FROZEN ACTORS, AT CLOSE
OF NEWS SEGMENTS STUDENTS ON STAGE DISPERSE FROM BOTH SIDES
OF THE STAGE. CHORUS ACTORS COME TO CENTER STAGE.)

CHORUS:
(single voice)
Everyone knows that there were problems with racism in the
past.
(unison)
So many stories of racism told.
So many lives affected by racism of old.
Young people watch black and brown people killed.
Police raise their hands say its part of the drill.
Its not just in the streets with bad guys and good guys
Its in classrooms and courtrooms and what economic mies
buy.
In the streets they scream no justice no peace.
In the departments they say the peace we must keep.
From behind a computer screen we criticize with impunity,
But nobody listens.
Its bigger than we allow ourselves to see.

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 Where are we going? Chaos or community?

(Chorus exits and lights out while first Isaiah, Travis and
two teachers set up for scene. It is two classrooms, on two
sides of the stage in the same scene happening
simultaneously Stage left, classroom 1 non-college bound
English. Stage Right is Classroom 2, AP English.)

The sound of a bell rings and students shuffle in a

classroom

TEACHER: (to the class)

Everyone sit down everyone sit
down and pull out your workbooks
and homework.

(Isaiah pulls out his homework but most other students

didn't complete it)

TEACHER:
Looks like no one did homework,
again. I honestly dont even know
why I assign it.

STUDENT:
We dont either.

ISAIAH:
I did it.

Teacher: Thats great (looks hard at Isaiah, cant recall

his name)
Isaiah: Isaiah.

Teacher: Yeah,, I knew--thats good. (Isaiah holds the

assignment up to turn it in, but he doesnt collect it--
hes already turned around to head to his desk)

Teacher: Okay guys, just open up your work books and do

last nights homework then I guess. (opens a newspaper to
read)

Isaiah: (gets up out of seat to approach teacher desk) Mr.

Smith, I did the homework, so what am I supposed to do now?

Teacher: I dont know, I mean NO ONE did the homework, so,

maybe you should just do homework for another class.

Isaiah: I did all my homework.

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Teacher: Well, maybe you should talk to the counselor to
get out of this class-- maybe you belong in regular college
prep classes. I dont know.

Isaiah: What does that mean?

Teacher: (sighs) that you need a regular english class to

go straight to college. You should pay more attention to
your schedule.

Isaiah: I didnt know I was getting placed in a class that

didnt let me go to college though.

Teacher: Oh come on, you didnt notice your schedule course

name?

Isaiah: It says academy English? I didnt realize there

were different classes.

[teacher rolls eye, breathes heavy, Isaiah makes his way

back to seat, the other students in class giggle and throw
papers around, then they all freeze-- Isaiah looks
dejected]

Lights move across stage to the AP classroom, students

sitting in a circle discussing

Teacher: Okay everyone lets resume yesterdays discussion.

How is Orwells description of society relevant today?

Travis: well, I dont know I think that the 2 minutes of

hate is totally like today where we can turn on the news
and hear people yelling and screaming and not listening.

Student: Yeah, like people are sometimes encouraged to hate

people. Its like, politics. Everyone hates everyone.

Travis: Yeah, and I also think that the way Orwell

describes how people in society are segregated is relevant
today too. Like the proles-- they are the poor and
uneducated working class and like Big Brother is keeping
them there on purpose, like they cant leave their class.

Student: Well, thats not the same today. We have choice

and freedom?

Travis: Um, I dont really think so. Like even here at our
school kids dont have choices of whether they are the
proles or not?

Teacher: Wow, lively discussion guys! We need to end this

for now because I need to get everyone signed up now to

9
meet with the college counselors. If you want to be doctors
and lawyers you need to talk to the counselor!

[All hands raise in excited anticipation before a freeze

and end scene]

CHORUS
The slave was kept a slave by keeping him
servile
Words hold a weight, the weight of power.
Education allows for freedom, so they keep
it locked away
Segregate the class, Separate but equal
still stands today
Theyre kept servile,
Until knowledge is surreptitiously gained
and consciousness arises
Until hopelessness turns to restlessness

SETTING:
Winter, mid 1850s. A large and busy field that slaves
are going through and picking cotton. They are
singing, Wade in the Water and watching the overseer
as they do. Eyes are cautious, careful not to let
their song be overheard. Three slaves whisper
instructions for an escape, while the other field
hands continue their song.

HARRISON
To the water,Henretta, to escape the dogs, when the
moon is full this month coming.

HENRIETTA
I don know ef I ken get the courage Harrison. I jes
don know.

HARRISON
You must. You will die here otherwise. And you must
resolve in your heart that youll do it all the way
before you go-- too many lives to risk otherwise if
you arent resolved. One slip, one hedge, and its not
just you they string up as an example. Its everyone
near you. The whole underground relies on your
resolve.

(Jeremiah comes over close)

HENRIETTA

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Hush now, Jeremiah here can hear, Overseer might hear
too and we get bloodied backs for shore.

JEREMIAH
I kin hear yous from a mile away. Be careful now.
Massah already spects you Harrison for all yer pretty
talk -- says you aint fit to be a slave. Gon spect
yous gettin all us slaves ready to revolt if you
whisper too much. Be careful now.

HENRIETTA
Hush now. It was the missus that don taught him to
read her own self. Jeremiah, you gon to the river to
carry us north? Or you just over here talkin to make
us nervous?

Jeremiah
Ima joinin you at the river, and Im...

(Just then, a man with a whip walks up to

the slaves and begins to yell at them)

2
OVERSEER
WHAT DO YALL THINK YOURE DOING?!

(all conversation stops and all three characters join

the singing)

OVERSEER
I dont see a lot a workin, all I see is a bunch of
socializing. All you negroes is the same, don know
nuthin about a decent days work. You wouldnt do a
thing if it wasnt for me here to whip the work out of
ya! Twenty lashes for all of you if you dont get
busier.

JEREMIAH
(mumbles)
He think he the massah now...

OVERSEER
What was that?!

HARRISON
That he sincerely begs your pardon, master.

OVERSEER
(grunts and cracks whip) Shut up and get back to work!
Sincerely begs your pardon. Hmph. What the hell you

11
talkin bout boy? Just shut up and work like god
intended you to and dont go getting uppity.

(The OVERSEER walks away

and the slaves continue their work)

JEREMIAH
I tol you that fancy talk was dangerous. Henretta may
like it, but massah will make sure to beat the talk
outta you. Be kehr-ful or you maynt make it to the
river Harrison.

3
HARRISON
I dont regret learning to read the good book. I
learned that god loves us all, and that Moses freed
the slaves and we are meant to be freed. Thats what
those fancy words taught me, Jeremiah, and when we are
free, youll learn them too, and only then will you be
free!

OVERSEER
Did I hear you say free? (whip cracks and overseer and
others come to grab Harrison, they drag him off stage
to sound of whips flying, Henretta and Jeremiah join
again in the song, Wade in the Water, Henretta cries
as she works. The sounds of Harrisons painful screams
are heard off stage. )

(All characters left on stage freeze and Frederick

Douglass unfreezes from side stage)

Frederick Douglass
When Mr. Auld told his wife not to teach me to read,
for it would forever make me unfit to be a slave, I
set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at
whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read. The
very decided manner with which he spoke, and strove to
impress his wife with the evil consequences of giving
me education, served to convince me that he was deeply
sensible of the truths he was uttering. It gave me the
best assurance that I might rely with the utmost
confidence on the results which, he said, would flow
from teaching me to read.

(Douglass freezes and Malcolm unfreezes)

Malcolm X

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 "Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow
belongs to the people who prepare for it today."

(Lights Out)

Duane Bennett

And that actually goes back to the early days of civil

rights. If you remember, during the days, for example, in
1954 Brown vs. Board of Education, the states wouldnt
allow African American, uh, Black students to go into
schools that were traditionally white. The state of, for
example, Alabama, and some of the southern states, refused
to comply with the courts desegregation order. States
wouldnt do it. The federal government had to come in and
pow the United States heads to come in and pull its wheel
to make the states comply.

[THE SOUND OF A SCHOOL BELL RINGS AND STUDENTS MOVE FROM

SIDE STAGE TO WALK IN SCHOOL HALLS ON PASSING PERIOD]

(Travis and Isaiah cross each other in the hallway)

TRAVIS
Hey Isaiah.

ISAIAH
Hey Travis [pause] hey hows your
English class going?

TRAVIS
Were just having a discussion on
George Orwells book 1984...pretty
good read.

ISAIAH
1984? You make it seem like I
should know what that book is.

TRAVIS
Isaiah(pause)youre kidding me you
havent heard of that book?

ISAIAH
I really havent.

TRAVIS
What are they teaching you in your
English class then?

13
 ISAIAH
Obviously not much its like they
dont even try to push us...I work
so hard in my class and Im still
so far behind you I dont
understand why-- like I do all the
homework?

TRAVIS
Maybe you should come with me to
the college counselor. Maybe they
will have more information for
you.

ISAIAH
Okay. But what do you even talk
about in these meetings?

TRAVIS
You just talk about what colleges
you can get into with the grades
youve gotten and classes youve
taken.

ISAIAH
Oh cool Ive been doing really
well in my classes, I mean I have
all As so I think I can get into
a good college.

(They get to the door of the

office)

TRAVIS
Okay Im gonna head in just walk
in after Im done.

(Travis opens the door and

walks in)

College Advisor
Hey Travis come on and take a
seat.

(Travis sits down, closes

door, Isaiah waits outside,
nervously pacing)

College Advisor
So I was looking at the classes
youre taking and youre acing all

14
of them! Way to go. What schools
are you interested in?

[Travis and counselor act like

they are discussing colleges, look
happy, energetic. Etc. then Travis
walks out of office]

Travis
[TO iSAIAH] Head in now. Ill wait
for you out here.

Isaiah
Okay, thanks. [hand-shake/ low-
five? Then Isaiah walks into
office]

Counselor
[looking surprised]
Do you have an appointment?

Isaiah
No, I didnt know I needed one. I
actually didnt even know we had a
counselor at school for college
until Travis told me.

Counselor
[looks quizzically at Isaiah]
You didnt know? Hmm [shrugs so
youre good friends with Travis?

Isaiah
Yeah, really good friends. Were
on the basketball team together.
And hes been talking a lot about
college lately. Weve both always
talked a lot about college, and I
thought it was weird he knew about
you and I didnt. Turns out his
English teacher set up meetings
for them, and mine didnt so I
thought I could just come talk to
you myself.

Counselor
Well, [looks at Isaiah] whats
your name son?

Isaiah
Isaiah-- Isaiah Alexander

15
 Counselor
ooKAY [types on computer to look
up Isaiahs information]
Well, Isaiah, it looks like none
of your English or math classes
transfer straight to college, so
we should look at junior colleges
for you if you really want to go
to college.

Isaiah
What? Dont transer? What does
that even mean?

Counselor
It means you cant go to a 4 year
university. You can go to junior
college though?

[Isaiahs face visibly upset, then

FREEZE]

Chorus:

Hallelujah the 13th amendment

Woe is me, Jim Crow
Hallelujah The Reconstruction
Bless my soul, this damn Nadir
Freedom in law, is not always freedom in life
And the hearts of men are slow to change.

(On screen) 1930s Vehicles driving around--

signs made for props Whites only have the
set design group research Jim Crow signs and
make some.

AT RISE: Benny and Johnny are two black men walking home
from work. Carolyn is a white woman waiting for her husband
outside of his store. Earl and Jeff are two street cleaners
who are sweeping nearby.

BENNY
What time does Linda want us home for dinner?

JOHNNY
I dont know but we better hurry!

BENNY

16
 She better fry up that okra, Im starvin!

JOHNNY
Not if I beat ya to it!

(JOHNNY SLAPS BENNY ON THE BACK AND STARTS TO RACE BENNY

ACROSS THE STAGE)

(CAROLYN DROPS HER BAG FULL OF THINGS. EARL AND JEFF TURN
AROUND AT THE SOUND, WHILE JOHNNY STOPS IN HIS TRACKS &
STARES AT CAROLYN. BENNY RECOGNIZES HIS HESITATION to
help.)

BENNY
(SUDDENLY SERIOUS)
Now Johnny you just let her be now. You know its not our
place.

JOHNNY
(BRUSHES HIM OFF, LAUGHING)
Its all right, Ben. Ill still get to dinner before you, I
just need to make sure to help a lady when she needs it.

(JOHNNY HALF RUNS TO CAROLYN AND HELPS HER PICK UP HER BAG,
THEIR HANDS BRUSHING AS HE HANDS HER BACK THE BAG. THEY
BOTH MAKE EYE CONTACT FOR 2 SECONDS.)

CAROLYN
(CAROLYNS HAND FLINCHES AS SHE BREAKS EYE CONTACT AND
SNATCHES HER THINGS BACK FROM JOHNNY)
Ive got it, thank you very much!

(EARL AND JEFF APPROACH JOHNNY AND CAROLYN)

EARL
Hey what do you think youre doin boy?

JOHNNY
She dropped her bag sir.

JEFF
This bluegum botherin you miss?

CAROLYN
(looking flustered)
Its alright, its just that this boy touched me...

JOHNNY
I just helped the Miss with her bag.

EARL
(MOVES CLOSER TO JOHNNY AND HE BACKS UP)

17
 Dont lie nigger! You were flirting!

JEFF
(MOVES IN CLOSER TO CORNER JOHNNY)
Your kind really have no sense in em. Real bold of you to
try n steal from a lady when she drops her purse

JOHNNY
No I wasnt! I was just trying to help.

BENNY
(CAUTIOUSLY COMES CLOSER)
He didnt do nothin I swear

JEFF
Stop lyin!
(Steps closer to BENNY)

EARL
(FORCEFULLY GRABS JOHNNY BY THE ARM AND PULLS HIM ON THE
GROUND. JEFF GRABS THE OTHER ARM AND BEGINS TO HIT HIM.)

JOHNNY
(SHOUTING AS HES BEING HIT)
Let go please! What are you doing?!

BENNY
(HE GRABS JEFF BY THE ARM AND HE FORCEFULLY SHAKES HIM OFF
AND HE FALLS.)
He didnt do nothing wrong!

JEFF
[smacks BENNY in the face. The blow knocks him on the
ground]
Watch it boy! Or youll have it comin your way as well!

[JEFF returns to where EARL is beating up JOHNNY. He joins

in and they drag him off STAGE LEFT]

[BENNY stays on the floor rubbing his face until he sees

OFFICER 1 & OFFICER 2 enter from STAGE RIGHT. He
frantically gets up and runs toward them ]

BENNY
Mister! Mister! They took my friend! Gave him a beatin for
helping that woman with her bags!

[BENNY turns to find that CAROLYN has left from STAGE LEFT]

BENNY
[frantically]
Please Mister theyll kill him for sure!

18
 OFFICER 1
Go on, boy! He had it comin to him. Broke a law didnt he?

OFFICER 2
You Negroes know you have no business fraternizin with
White women.

BENNY
[hysterically pleading]
Sir please theyre killing him!

OFFICER 2
[scoffs]
Dont waste my time boy.

[OFFICER 1 & OFFICER 2 exit STAGE LEFT.]

BENNY
[Runs back to STAGE LEFT and stares into the direction the
two men took his friend]
He didnt do nothin!

[LIGHTS BLACK OUT]

BENNY
[his voice breaks into a sob]
He didnt do nothin!

[END SCENE.]

TRANSITION: BENNYS CRIES FADE OUT AND EXCERPT OF MEGAN

GREEN PLAYS.

(Picture of Emmett Till flashes across the scene

July 25th, 1941 - August 28th, 1955)

MEGAN GREEN
So Im thinking Im moving to Wisconsin- home of cheese,
dairy, and farmers, so I figured Im movin up here with all
the White people, and there's this humongous population of
Black people. Um Theyre.. Theyre hard.. You cant avoid
em, you cant get away from them - theyre everywhere, and
I dont mean that in a negative way, I mean its..its you
know you learn to keep an eye on yourself. You learn to
keep yourself aware as to whats going on. You know we have
a homeless problem here, TOO, and I dont know what cities
dont have that problem, but we have a homeless problem
here and thats.. Another piece of the puzzle. So you learn
to keep an eye on yourself, and youre much more aware..

19
And you know being a female -being a White female- um, I
think youre always on alert.

Chorus
[moving across stage from one side of stage
to the other]
The people will rise, because they dont
have a choice.
The people will rise so they can hear their
own voice.
Will we listen or will we cover our ears?
Will we hear them, as the streets fill with
tears?

When chorus exits, lights out, then screen

lights up with text to announce next scene:

SCENE : The Murder of Jimmy Jackson February 26, 1965

Stage lights up, and a group of young protesters are center

stage with signs and there is a leader among them.

MARION PROTESTER LEADER: Brothers and sisters, we are here

to march today peacefully to gain our voting rights. We
cannot tolerate poll taxes and literacy tests. We cannot be
kept from our basic civil rights. As we march, we join in
song. We shall overcome.
[leader begins the song and quickly, the group joins]

MARION PROTESTERS: (begin to sing lyrics)

We shall overcome,
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome, someday.
Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, someday.
[police line approaches, protesters continue to sing]
We'll walk hand in hand,
We'll walk hand in hand,
We'll walk hand in hand, some day.
Oh, deep in my heart

[song interrupted by police now moving quickly to beat

crowd, most of group runs chaotically and in different
directions, a single man is left in the center, Jimmy
Jackson, who is surrounded by the police until audience
cannot see him, police raise batons to beat him to death)

20
[Spotlight goes to side stage where a news broadcast is
read]

News Broadcaster: Breaking news. In Marion Alabama, a group

of peaceful protesters were stopped in their tracks by
Alabama State Troopers. Police and troopers brutally beat,
then shot Jimmy Johnson, a protester in the voting rights
march.

[spotlight moves to opposite side of stage to Dr. King and

SCLC members gathered around a radio]

SCLC MEMBER1: Good Lord...I cant believe this!

SCLC MEMBER 2: Its a shame that this is what the justice

system has come to.

SCLC MEMBER 1 : Weve got to do something! Weve got to get

to Selma. The states have ignored the Brown ruling and they
ignore the 15th amendment. We have to keep fighting.

SCLC MEMBER 2: Yes, Jimmy Jackson-- may his soul rest in

peace-- has brought awareness to the fact that the Brown
ruling is not being followed, the 15th Amendment means
nothing to some states. The world is watching.

SCLC MEMBER 2: Me have to act now. Again.

SCLC MEMBER 1: Yes, we shall. Dr. King is already making

plans for Selma. They say there will be a march to Governor
Wallace at the state capitol.

Spot lights go back to center stage, with text projected

behind: Bloody Sunday, Selma Alabama 1965

Group of protesters are marching with MLK on to stage. And

a wall of police troopers facing them.

Major John Cloud: (yelling at a crowd) It would be

detrimental to your safety to continue this march.This is
an unlawful assembly. You have to disperse, you are ordered
to disperse. Go home or go to your church. This march will
not continue.

MLK: I know you are asking today, How long will it take?

SELMA MARCHERS: (In unison) Speak, sir!

21
MLK: Somebodys asking, How long will prejudice blind the
visions of men, darken their understanding, and drive
bright-eyed wisdom from her sacred throne?

Somebodys asking, When will wounded justice, lying

prostrate on the streets of Selma and Birmingham and
communities all over the South, be lifted from this dust of
shame to reign supreme among the children of men?

Somebodys asking, When will the radiant star of hope be

plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night

SELMA MARCHERS: (In unison) Speak! Speak! Speak!

MLK: Plucked from wiry souls with chains of fear and the
manacles of death? How long will justice be crucified

SELMA MARCHERS: (In unison) Speak!

MLK: I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult

the moment

SELMA MARCHERS: (In unison) Yes Sir!

MLK: However frustrating the hour, it will not be long

SELMA MARCHERS: (In unison) No Sir!

MLK: Because truth crushed to earth will rise again.

SELMA MARCHERS: (In unison) Yes Sir!

[THE SOUND OF A SCHOOL BELL RINGS AND STUDENTS MOVE FROM

SIDE STAGE TO WALK IN SCHOOL HALLS ON PASSING PERIOD]

(Travis and Isaiah cross each other in the hallway)

TRAVIS
[Isaiah exits counselor office]
Howd it? Should we start planning
dorm rooms? [ jabbing Isaiah and
laughing]

ISAIAH
Nope. I cant go to college.

TRAVIS
What? That doesnt make sense.

ISAIAH
Apparently Ive been enrolled in
some no-college classes. Might as

22
 well not even come to school--
whats the point?

TRAVIS
Im sure its a mistake

Isaiah
Its not a mistake. Hey, listen, I gotta go.
I dont really feel like talking about it
anymore.

TRAVIS
Okay, sorry man. Ill see you at practice.

ISAIAH
Maybe. I dont know.

FREEZE

Duane Bennett & CHI-TECH STUDENT

Duane Bennett: I represent the police

department, I work with police department, I
totally believe in police but, I have also
seen that the there is an accurate argument
that African Americans and people of color
are treated a little bit differently. A lot
of times African Americans are looked upon
or not seen uhh in the same light as
others, we seem to be the greater threat, so
its easier to kill us its easier to assume
that our cell phone is a gun,easier to
assume that if a child like Tamir Rice has a
play gun, the police mistaken the 12 year
old, mistake him to be a man of threat and
they kill him, you know why does that happen
because we have perceptions of theorem bias
to society we have never really come to
grips with and so Im not an anti police, I
love police, I spent a bulk of career
defending police but there is still that
type of problem so you know when you ask if
I could change something in the system, it
would be the way we as people look at other
people.

CHI TECH STUDENT

23
 When bad things happen with the PO-lice,
its your word against theirs and they
always win. Nobody listen to us.

Isaiah
[talking on cell phone]
No Im not at school. I left. [pause]
because whats the point? Ive been wasting
my time in that joke of a class for three
years now, and it doesnt mean anything.
[PAUSE] Yes I know that Im not supposed to
ditch [pause] I know, but I just had to get
out. I couldnt sit in that stupid class
anymore now that I know.

[police lights flash, car pulls up]

ISAIAH
Oh great, lets make this awful day worse.
The police are probably gonna make me go
back to school, I gotta go. Ill call you

Police
Freee, put your hands up!

Isaiah
Whoa, okay, got it, Im just hanging up my
phone

POLICE
Isaid put your hands up!

ISAIAH
Okay [puts phone in pocket, but police
officer rushed him, pins him on floor]

FREEZE

Officer W
I think for the most part peoples view of
the police is relatively unfair and I think
that's it because of the advances in social
media that takes things that occurred around
the world and within minutes you can hear
about it see about it from wherever you're
at and things to that are some of the big
advances it unfortunate of the many men and
women that are in law enforcement career
that are out there 24 hours a day there out

24
there doing a good job trying to do the best
they can and yes there is some that do it
intentionally or not intentionally that make
a bad decision or bad choice and
unfortunately those are the ones that end up
becoming magnified and again it goes across
the country and you don't hear about the
good things that are happening everyday in
law enforcement. You also dont hear, as
often, about police officers killed on duty
or the dangers of the profession.

Freeze, lights out, actors exit scene

Video and screen play

On screen: Rodney King Trial in Simi Valley, CA

March 30, 1993
Play footage of the footage of beating from youtube

AT RISE:
STACEY KOON sits in a chair UPSTAGE MIDDLE.
PROSECUTOR DARRYL MOUNGER stands near him, Pacing
around the courtroom. JUDGE sits to the right of
KOON silently. The JURY also sits quietly, to
the right of KOON.

MOUNGER
Sergeant Koon, With regard to your state of mind, what were
you thinking when you saw Rodney King, this buffed up
person?

KOON
My initial response was he probably was an ex-con. CHP
Officer Melanie Singer began approaching the suspect with a
gun in hand.

MOUNGER
And how close did she get to Mr. King?

KOON
(Motion to length of jury spread out)
Id approximate about 5 or 6 feet.

MOUNGER
And did you say anything to Officer Singer?

KOON
Yes sir, I did. I ordered her to stay back.

25
 MOUNGER
And why was that sir?

KOON
Because she was injecting a gun into the situation and my
tactical training had lead me to believe that you dont
approach suspects and control them with a gun - the next
thing I saw was Officer Powell being thrown off of Mr. King
and Officer Briseno struggling to get away.

MOUNGER
Alright, when you say thrown off, can you describe for the
jury what you mean by thrown off, what position he was in?

KOON
(MOTIONS HANDS DESCRIBING WHAT OFFICERS WERE TRYING TO DO)
Well Mr. Kings left arm was behind him and Officer Powell
was on his back and Officer Briseno was trying to force the
arm up to meet, so the wrist would match behind the cuff-
all of a sudden Mr. Kings arms just came out from him
swaying left and right then Officer Powell was thrown off
and Office Briseno landed on his behind. I ordered them to
back off and then I tased the suspect, Mr. King.

MOUNGER
Alright, did you say anything to him before you tased him?

KOON
Yes sir, I did.

MOUNGER
What did you say to him?

KOON
He was on the rise and I ordered him to get down, to lay
down.

MOUNGER
Alright, tell the jury what you mean by on the rise sir.

KOON
(USES HAND MOTIONS TO DESCRIBE WHAT RODNEY KING WAS DOING)
He had initially gone out flat and after the rolling motion
he had kinda come up to his left side and his torso was off
the ground and his legs were cocked and he was attempting,
in my opinion, to rise off the ground.

MOUNGER
And did you say this in a normal tone?

KOON

26
No, I shouted at him, I advised him that if he didnt get
down I was gonna tase him.

MOUNGER
Alright, and did he stay down?

KOON
No, he did not, he continued to rise, so I tased him.

MOUNGER
Did you see any physical movements of Mr. King?

KOON
No, he grimaced, he kinda gave out like a bear like yell.
Then he continued to rise. He got up to his knees and he
began to turn 180 degrees toward me-then I ordered him
again to lay down, yet he continued to rise. He rose to his
feet and I tased him a second time.

MOUNGER
And what did he do after you tased him a second time?

KOON
He repeated this groan similar to like a wounded animal and
then he seem to be overcoming it. This time I thought the
suspect was under the influence of PCP, which is a
dangerous drug, its policemen nightmare-it makes the user
super strong with a more or less one track mind and they
exhibit super strength- they equate it with a monster-

MOUNGER
You saw the officers giving a tort of blows to his body.

KOON
Yes, to his arms, his torso, and his legs.

MOUNGER
Alright, had you given any specific direction to Mr. King
at this time?

KOON
Ive been yelling at him to get down, to stay down at this
time but he continued to rise.

MOUNGER
And what were you thinking at this moment sir?

KOON
I was becoming concerned and a bit frighten because this
gentleman had just been subjected to a multitude of blows
with a metal PR24 and there was no evidence that he was
going into compliance mode....

27
 MOUNGER
Alright, and Mr. King had been hit several times?

KOON
Hes been hit a lot of times.

MOUNGER
And at this point did you believe he was trying to get up?

KOON
Yes, I did.

MOUNGER
And what did you think he was trying to get up for?

KOON
He was going to get up and arm himself and possibly attack
Officer Winn, Officer Powell, or Office Briseno.

MOUNGER
During this entire incident, do you believe you were in
charge of your officers?

KOON
Yes, I was in charge of my officers.

MOUNGER
Do you believe your officers did anything improper?

KOON
This was a managed and controlled type of force. It
followed the policy and procedures of the LA Department and
training.

MOUNGER
How do you view looking at the videotape sir?

KOON
Its violent and its brutal.

MOUNGER
Was this anything that you enjoyed?

KOON
No.

MOUNGER
Why was it done?

KOON

28
It was done to control an aggressive combative suspect and
sometimes police work is brutal. Thats just a fact of
life.

Judge
Okay, its time for the deliberation.
(Sound of the gavel)

[JURY files into courtroom]

Judge
Court will hear the jurys decision.

Jury Member
We find the defendants Sgt. Stacey C. Koon,Officers
Laurence M. Powell, Theodore J. Briseno,and former Officer
Timothy E. Wind, not guilty of the charges of assault or
excessive force.

(King & lawyers faces contort angrily, police officers

look relieved and hug each other, judge slams gavel one
more time with stern face, and then the character all
FREEZE this way)

With actors frozen on stage, screen behind show images and

video of riots from LA.

Duane Bennett:
(becomes unfrozen as someone from the court scene, stands
to face audience and deliver monologue)

In the Rodney King case, the state had the first

opportunity to correct the situation. The state didnt do
it. And so, the federal government, under President Bush,
who called in the DOJ and the federal government, came in
and did what the state could not and would not do. The
state had the first opportunity to correct what most people
saw as a civil rights deprivation. The state didnt do it.

ISAIAH
[talking from a pay phone at police station, across from
the officer, sound of voice shaking]
Mom? Im at the police station. [PAUSE] No, Im [pause,
touches his face and head] I think Im okay. [pause] Im
sorry, I was ditching and I got beat up by a cop when I
tried to explain that I was putting a cell phone away.
[PAUSE] No I didnt talk back.

INTERMISSION

29
CHORUS
EVERYONE KNOWS THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH
RACISM IN THE PAST
EVERYONE KNOWS THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH
RACISM NOW
RACISM WOVEN INTO THE TAPESTRY OF OUR STORY
PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, THAT NO ONE CAN DENY
BUT WHAT WAS VISIBLE, IS NOW INVISIBLE
HOW DO WE FIGHT WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE?
WHO DO WE BLAME FOR THE DEATHS ON THE
STREET?
HOW DO WE EXPLAIN SEGREGATED CITIES AND
CLASSROOMS?
WHAT IS STOP AND FRISK AND STAND YOUR
GROUND?
IS IT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OR A CHANCE TO PUT
POOR BROWN BOYS IN JAIL? SHOOT WHAT WE ARE
AFRAID OF.
THIS BRUTALITY WE SPEAK OF, IS IT A POLICE
PROBLEM, A POVERTY PROBLEM, A PEOPLE
PROBLEM?
WE THINK WE KNOW, BUT WE CANT EVER REALLY
SEE. NO ONE CAN SAY.
WHAT IF WE ALL-- ALL--POLICE, AND ALL--
STOPPED TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS? WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN?
BLACK LIVES MATTER ALL LIVES MATTER POLICE
LIVES MATTER

(CHORUS EXITS)

Trayvon Martin
[behind the character of Trayvon should be
projected an image of Trayvon]

Florida Legislature was enacted in 2005. It has

been popularly known as the Stand Your Ground
law. This law, as codified in Sections 776.012,
and 776.013, Florida Statutes, provides that a
person is justified in the use of deadly force
and has no duty to retreat if the person
reasonably believes that such force is necessary
to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to
himself or herself, or another or to prevent the
imminent commission of a forcible felony.
The principles of Stand your ground, however, has
been the law in Florida for well over a century.

There is great subjectivity in the interpretation

of imminent danger of course. Do I look like an
imminent danger to you? Why? I must know this.
Why?
30
 Lights out, and back onto the scene

Projected on the screen: February 26, 2011 at 7:09pm.

AT RISE:

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, a neighborhood watchman, is on duty. On

the left side of the stage, TRAYVON MARTIN is walking
casually with his hood up and he has his hand in his pocket
while drinking an Arizona and eating Skittles out of his
pocket. GEORGE ZIMMERMAN is sitting in his car watching. He
notices TRAYVON MARTIN, who is still walking around, pulls
out his phone and dials 911.

<Phone Ringing noise>

(OFF) DISPATCHER
Sanford Police Department...Whats your name and your
emergency?

ZIMMERMAN
My name is George Zimmerman, weve had some break-ins in my
neighborhood, and theres a real suspicious guy, uh, near
Retreat View Circle.The best address I can give you is 111
Retreat View Circle. This guy looks like he's up to no
good, or he's on drugs or something. It's raining, and he's
just walking around, looking about.

(TRAYVON continues to walk around, hands in his pockets and

his hoodie up.)

(OFF) DISPATCHER
Ok, and this guy, is he white, black or hispanic?

ZIMMERMAN
HE looks black.

(OFF) DISPATCHER
Did you see what he was wearing?

ZIMMERMAN
Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans
or sweatpants and white tennis shoes....Hes
just..staring..

(OFF) DISPATCHER
OK, hes just walking around the area

31
 ZIMMERMAN
...Looking at all the houses

(OFF) DISPATCHER
Ok..

(TRAYVON spots ZIMMERMAN and stares at him, trying to see

who he is.)

ZIMMERMAN
Now hes just staring at me.

(OFF) DISPATCHER
Ok-you said its 1111 Retreat View Circle? Or 111?

ZIMMERMAN
Thats the clubhouse..

(OFF) DISPATCHER
Thats the clubhouse, do you know what the- hes near the
clubhouse right now?

(TRAYVON MARTIN starts walking towards ZIMMERMAN.)

ZIMMERMAN
Yeah, now hes coming towards me. Hes got his hand in his
waistband. And hes a black male.

(OFF) DISPATCHER

How old do you think he looks?

ZIMMERMAN
Hes got a button on his shirt, late teens.

(OFF)DISPATCHER
Late teens. Ok.

ZIMMERMAN
Something's wrong with him. Yup, hes coming to check me
out, hes got something in his hands, I dont know what his
deal is.

(OFF)DISPATCHER
Just let me know if he does anything, ok?

ZIMMERMAN
How long until you get an officer here?

32
 (OFF)DISPATCHER
Yeah, weve got someone on the way. Just let me know if
this guy does anything else.

(TRAYVON gets a good look at ZIMMERMAN and gets scared,

runs away.)
<STAGE LEFT LIGHT OFF>

ZIMMERMAN
Okay. Shit, hes running!

(OFF)DISPATCHER
Hes running? Which way is he running?

ZIMMERMAN
The back entrance...

(OFF)DISPATCHER
Are you following him

ZIMMERMAN
Yeah

(OFF)DISPATCHER
OK, we dont need you to do that.

ZIMMERMAN
Ok

(OFF)DISPATCHER
Whats your name again?

ZIMMERMAN
George Zimmerman. Are the officers almost here yet?

(OFF)DISPATCHER
Yes, where do you want them to meet you?

ZIMMERMAN
By the clubhouse-do you need my number?

(OFF)DISPATCH
No we got it. Ill let them know to call you when youre in
the area.

ZIMMERMAN
Thanks.

(OFF) DISPATCHER
Youre welcome.

33
 (LINE DISCONNECT NOISE)

ZIMMERMAN
Hey you! What are you doin here?!

TRAYVON
Why dont you tell me why youre following me first?

ZIMMERMAN
Thats none of your business

TRAYVON
Of course its my business.

ZIMMERMAN
Yeah right. Youre just here to rob someones house!

TRAYVON
Just leave me alone, Im not hurting anyone

ZIMMERMAN
Just stay right there, the police are on their way

[TRAYVON starts walking away, turning his back on

ZIMMERMAN]

I-2-6
TRAYVON
Nah man, Im goin home

[ZIMMERMAN grabs TRAYVON]

ZIMMERMAN
Stop!

[A struggle ensues.]

TRAYVON
Get off of me!

[TRAYVON violently jerks his arm away from ZIMMERMAN and

shoves him to the floor.]

ZIMMERMAN
Help! Someone help me!

[ZIMMERMAN hits his head on the floor. TRAYVON is standing

over ZIMMERMAN, shocked. ZIMMERMAN then pulls his firearm
at TRAYVON. ZIMMERMAN points it at TRAYVON and fires it.
TRAYVON goes down.Zimmerman takes out his phone again and
dials 911]

34
 [Lights black out]

DISPATCHER (OFF STAGE)

911 Whats your emergency?

Frozen behind this scene are Mack & Officer Parker

(Image of Trayvon Martin is projected on screen

February 5th, 1995 - February 26th, 2012 )

Mack
[Walks to center stage, faces audience]
Every time I read about another killing, another death, another
hashtag, I feel bad, every single time. It makes you just in
disbelief every single time and it makes you just think, no! not
again, and wow, I cant believe that this is normal and that Im
not really that surprised and that Im sad but not like, you know
I'm not like.. Shocked.. Like Im very sad but, theres hollow
feeling, like its only a matter of time before the next hashtag
like, I dont know if you guys saw yesterday, I couldnt even
click on the articles, I didnt even read any details because I
couldnt be in that headspace and I didnt see the point of
reading it yet, but A 13 year old boy was shot and killed
yesterday. Like seriously. Yesterday. For having- Yeah I dont
even know his name but, there was a hashtag. But I just feel like
there comes a point when you just have to stop internalizing it
and like I dont know every hashtag hurts I think to some
extent.

Officer Parker
If the police tell you to do something do it, if you don't
like it, complain later, if you think it's wrong, complain
later, but when it's happening you have to obey it cause
you know if a toy gun how many people get shot with toy
guns you know it's a toy gun, all your friends know its a
toy gun, but the guy that wants to go home that night, he
doesn't know its a toy gun. I remember I stopped somebody
years ago that had a bb gun... no not a bb gun but a pellet
gun which is slightly more powerful than a bb gun. He had
it between his legs in the car had he started to touch it
when I saw it you know I would have shot him, but

35
fortunately he didn't I didn't know it was only a bb gun at
the time but you know I assure you it would have been
justified because when you see it from five feet away in
the dark it looks like a real gun so you just have to not
play with guns. Parents need to teach their children-- you
know -- don't go being stupid.

[Lights out new scene opposite side of stage]

DISPATCHER:
(Speaking into headset)911 what is your emergency?

CALLER:
(In a worried and hushed tone)
I am sitting in a park in West Cudell.

DISPATCHER:
West Cudell?

CALLER:
Yes. He keeps pulling it out of his pants, its probably
fake but its scaring the shit out of me.

DISPATCHER:
What does he look like?

CALLER:
He has a camouflage hat on, a grey coat, black sleeves.
Grey pants on.

DISPATCHER:
Is he black or white?

CALLER:
Hes black. I am getting ready to leave...He has it in his
hands, I dont know if its real or not.

DISPATCHER:
Ok, Im sending in officers.

CALLER:
Okay. Thank you.
36
Lights out and image of TAMIR RICE projects on screen with
dates of birth and death

Light ups
On the screen projected: Staten Island, New York 2014

AT RISE:
Eric Garner Sitting on the ground leaning against the wall
with his legs straight out infront of him.

OFFICER #1
Get up.
(Walks toward Eric and reaches out and tries to grab Eric
with
his right arm.)

ERIC
What are you doing? Who do think you are? (Flinched back
and has a confused facial expression.)

OFFICER #1
I saw you selling something.(Hand gesture for up.)

ERIC
What are you talking about? (Eric opens his arms
downwards.)
I didn't sell nothing.
(His voice gets louder. Then lifts up his shirt and turns
his head to side pulls shirt down.)I didn't do SHIT!
(Yells and throws arms down with anger.) Are you serious?!
(Yells and throws arms down by his side with anger.)

OFFICER #1
Yeah, I am, because I saw you selling cigarettes.(Shrugs
shoulders and unfolds arms forwards.)Its officer Zayas,
Im calling for backup, Im at Staten Island's New York.

RAMSEY
(runs toward the scene)
Dude, I was watching from across the street officer, he
didnt no nothing! He broke up the fight, you let the other
guys run off and blamed this innocent man.
(Standing a few feet away from officer 2 recording the
argument.)

ERIC
(Eric turns around arms on his hips.)
I was just sitting here. Minding my own business and you're
blaming it on me! (Points at himself.)
37
OFFICER #2
Hold up, what's that? Do you have anything on you?
ERIC
I didn't do nothing what did I do?
(Raises voice.)

OFFICER #1
Let me see some ID, show me your identification.
(Walks towards Eric reaching out his hand )

ERIC
My ID? (Confused.)
I don't have my ID with me. (Shows empty hands.)

OFFICER #2
Well whats your name then huh?
(Taking back his hand)

ERIC
My name is Eric Garner.

OFFICER #2
How do we know thats your real name?
(Leans forward.)

ERIC
Why would I lie about my name?!

OFFICER #2
Well since you cant prove it, well just have to take you
in.
(Reaches out.)

ERIC
Take me in for what!?
(Raises his voice.)

OFFICER #1
For selling cigarettes.
(Points to Eric's pocket.)

ERIC
I DIDN'T Sell ANYTHING!
(Raises voice.)
I did nothing I was sitting here the whole time!
(Putting his hand in his pocket and pointing with the other
to the spot he was sitting.)

OFFICER #1
I watched you.

38
(Points at where Eric was sitting.)

ERIC
You watched me do what? Who did I sell cigarettes to?

OFFICER #1
The two men over there, the one in the red shirt.
(Points off to the side.)

ERIC
The guy with the red shirt? I dont even know that dude!
(Points at the guy.)

OFFICER #1
And also the man in the green shirt. (Points again.) I saw
you passing him something.

ERIC
You're gonna lock me up for what? From that one time you
saw me. Thats why you are taking me in?!
(Raises voice a bit higher.)

Im minding my own business officer.

(Lowers voice a bit.)

OFFICER #2
No, I saw what you did, you sold cigarettes to those guys.
(Pointing to Eric.)

RAMSEY
Hey, officers, Im telling you...He didn't sell anything
officer! Leave him alone!
(Raises his voice.)

OFFICER #1
Why are you mad?
(Questioning Eric with confusion.)

ERIC
BECAUSE IM PISSED THE FUCK OFF!

OFFICER #1
Im pissed off that you are yelling.
(Pointing over at Eric trying to keep calm.)

Eric
Because I was sitting here minding my own business and you
walk over here and tried to grab me!

OFFICER #2

39
Calm down. (Puts arms behind his back, puts his arms over
eric garner puts him in a chokehold and pulls him down)

RAMSEY
Hey what the fuck! He didnt do nothing!
(recording the whole incident)

ERIC
(While in a chokehold)
I cant breathe! I cant brea-
(Extending his arm for help)
I cant b-
I cant breathe!
(Officers on top of him choking him)

OFFICER #2
(Pushing his head into the ground)

RAMSEY
(while recording the scene with his cell phone
Do you see this, this is unbelievable.

ERIC
(Eric mumbling because his head is being pushed into the
ground while choked to death)
I cant breath!

CHARACTERS FREEZE, THEN LIGHTS MOVE TO OPPOSITE SIDE OF

STAGE TO A NEWS ANCHOR ON THE SCENE

AMY GOODMAN
Tonight, news updates about the Eric Garner case highlight
tensions arising around the outcomes. While some have
welcomed the charges against Sergeant Adonis, a case
witness named Natalia Rodriguez steps forward
Rodriguez says Sergeant Adonis was the only officer at the
scene who tried to save his life. And while Adonis is the
first officer to face reprimand, the only person who has
actually been criminally charged who was at the scene that
day is not an officer. Ramsey Orta, the young man who
filmed the fatal chokehold on his cellphone and released
the footage, has been arrested multiple times by police
since Garners death. Supporters, including Garners son,
joined Ramsey Orta on Monday at yet another of his court
appearances on Staten Island. I mean, a grand jury did not
indict any officers, but the New York Police Department has
brought the sergeant, the supervising officer, Adonis, up
on departmental charges. Your thoughts?
Lets begin with you.

(Points microphone at audience)

40
 [Reporter freezes and light goes to center stage for a
monologue]

(Image of Eric Garner appears on screen

September 15, 1970 July 17, 2014)

CHORUS:
*Bold: In unison. In the background, have
people singing the lines:
I CANT BREATHE, I CANT BE softly

We stand in the streets our hands in the air

Yelling Hands up, Dont shoot.
We lay on the ground, heads to the pavement
Yelling I cant breathe

When we are denied the basic right

To stand,
To breathe
When our people are killed,
We will rise

We will rise
from the cement pavement
Stained with the blood of our brothers and
sisters
We will rise
In strength,
In solidarity

If one of us is chained
Then none of us are free
Until justice is obtained
Then none of us can be

We share the same blood,

Thicker than mud
And WE CANT BREATHE

Sung

All of us are blood thicker than the mud, but BROTHER I

CANT BREATHE

Doug Thompson

41
 Well, I volunteer with Stand Up for Racial
Justice because I realize how difficult it is to
motivate white people to get involved in the
work. I started to develop friendships with
people whose realities were very different from
mine and as soon as I started hearing about those
realities it was very upsetting for me. I have a
responsibility to do something about the
privileged white person who doesn't have any of
these experiences and that's what has kept me
motivated over the years to get involved in
different ways. Over the last several years
specifically all of these videos that have come
out. I have watched most if not all of them. I
have seen 30 or 40 videos that have shown
everything from people of color getting shot and
killed to kids in schools getting abused by
officers. Those things are just startling. I
think all kids should be protected against that
kind of violence happening in their schools and
certainly the kind of violence happening by
police officers in schools. That just shouldn't
be happening period.

Officer Tommy Norman

I originally became a police officer to make arrests and
rid the streets of guns and drugs, but our police chief,
Mike Davis here in North Carolina, he stresses community
policing. And I see it now too. I look beyond tickets and
arrests now. I like to tell people, Get out and visit with your
local police officers. Schedule a ride along with an officer to
see what their job is like. Attend community events & become
involved as a citizen. And For police officers, park your car,
walk the beat & form as many relationships as possible. Step out
of the box, dance, laugh and have fun. Lead with your heart. Our
badge should have a heart beat, and not an ego.

SETTING:
We are in Downtown Dallas, Texas at a peaceful
demonstration against police shootings in Louisiana and
Minnesota that focused on the violence exhibited by police
officers. Protesters proudly hold a banner with the words
Black Lives Matter and can be heard chanting no justice,
no peace.

AT RISE:
[Candles lit in a vigil on the screen with singing or
humming of protesters We shall overcome with police
lining the street. Then a gunshot is heard. Officers take
cover behind patrol cars and pillars, and tending to their
42
fallen comrades, amid the boom of gunfire and the flashing
of emergency lights. Brent Thompson arrives, runs onto the
stage]

BRENT
[into his radio, frantically]
Live shooter in Dallas at the protest on the corner of 10th
and Laurel, officers down send for back up.

(MICAH draws near to Brent, then Brent to MICAH with gun

drawn)

Police! Put the gun down! Drop your weapon! I said drop
your weapon!

(BRENT charges at MICAH, MICAH points his gun at BRENT and

fires. BRENT falls to the ground next to the 4 other
deceased police officers.)

(Lights turn off)

(Emergency sirens fade out into

the background)

[Lights turn to opposite side of stage for news room]

CHRIS WALLACE

Good evening, Im Chris Wallace. This just in. A fatal

police shooting has broken out in Dallass downtown area.
Folks were protesting in the wake of this situation in
Minnesota, and another situation in Baton Rouge Louisiana,
involving the shooting of two black men by white police
officers, uh in circumstances that looked questionable, but
have yet to have been resolved by those looking into it.
Here to tell us more, Megyn Kelly

MEGYN KELLY
Thank you Chris. Just moments ago, police were monitoring a
peaceful protest against police violence after the shooting
of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. Within a
matter of moments, chaos occurred. The shooting broke out
around 9 oclock, by a man identified as Micah Johnson, a
25 year old military veteran. Investigators are unsure of
all the facts as of this moment.

43
 CHRIS WALLACE

This is the state of America today. You know this issue has
reached a boiling point. The Cops are fed up with being
called racists. Some of them are fed up with their fellow
cops. They dont make a lot of money. They put their lives
on the line to protect us. 98 percent of them are good
cops, who dont run around trying to shoot people
unnecessarily.

MEGYN KELLY

And yet theres some bad ones, and there's no question that
young black men in America today, many of them feel like
their lives are on the line if they have any sort of
encounter with a police officer.

CHRIS WALLACE

We went digging and found that the shooter has connections

to some hate groups, according to many reports, according
to the LA Times tonight. This was a mobile shooter that had
a written manifesto on how to shoot and move, shoot and
move, shoot and move and he did that. Investigators
searched the shooters home, and returned with bags of
evidence including bomb making materials. The suspect had
no criminal history, we know that he spent six years in the
U.S. Army reserves. Theres no information that he trained
as a sniper. Included in a journal found in his house, the
shooter was angry about recent shootings by police and
wanted to kill white people, specifically white police
officers. He made up his mind tonight to kill police
officers, and unfortunately he was able to succeed before
he was killed by another police officer.

MEGYN KELLY

Im gonna stop you right there. I think something really

important we need to acknowledge is the heroic lives we
lost tonight. These five officers gave up their lives
protecting the families and protesters present in the rally
tonight, and those heroic deeds will not go unnoticed. The
vast majority of police officers out there want to protect
us, and want to enforce the law. They dont run around
shooting innocent people, however, you dont hear that
message forcefully brought by all the people in power.
Youre not going to have anyone who wants to be a cop

44
anymore, if youre gonna demonize them who's gonna want
this job?

(lights fade out)

(All actors return to stage, standing
at ease shoulder to shoulder to one
another.)

STUDENT READS 1

Brent Thompson was a 43 year old, Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Officer. Two weeks ago, he recently married a fellow
officer, and she describes her husband as a kind heart who
was always willing to help others.
(Light shines on PATRICK ZAMARRIPA)
(Image of PATRICK ZAMARRIPA a appears)

STUDENT READS 2

Patrick was a 32 year old Dallas Police Officer. He leaves

behind a wife and two children. His father describes him as
a very giving person, he would give you his last dollar if
you needed it. Patrick was a former U.S. Navy veteran.

(Light shines on MICHAEL KROL)

(Image of MICHAEL KROL appears)

STUDENT READS 1

Michael Krol was a 40 year old police officer. His lifelong

dream was to become a police officer. His uncle describes
him as a very hard and dedicated worker.
(Light shines on LORNE AHRENS)
(image of LORNE AHRENS appears)

STUDENT READS 2

Lorne Ahrens was a 48 year old Dallas police officer. He

has been described as a dedicated professional. You would
be happy to turn up to your shift and see Lorne. He was
described as a well grounded man, who wouldnt let the evil
in the world stop him from doing whats good.
(Light shines on MICHAEL SMITH)
(image of MICHAEL SMITH appears)

STUDENT READS 1

Michael Smith was a 55 year old Dallas Police Officer. He

leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

45
 (BLACKOUT)

MLK
Mass marches turned the common man into a star performer
and engaged him in a total commitment. But today in 1965,
we are still shackled in poverty, with sub-standard
education. Yet non-violence resistance causes no explosions
of anger-- instigated no riots. It controlled anger and
released it with discipline for maximum effect. What
lobbying and imploring could not do in legislative halls,
marching feet accomplished hundreds of miles away. Non-
violent direct action proved the most effective generator
of change the movement had seen.Without harming persons of
property, we can draw as much attention to our grievances.
Non-violence is a powerful demand for reason and justice.

MALCOLM X
You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at
peace unless he has his freedom.
You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face
reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.
If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.

Chorus
A noble desire
Born out of love, brought to dust
To protect and serve your brothers
How can we do that when we never truly
became brothers?
When our scars of the past
Ruin our humanity

Demonizing and dehumanizing

Where Black skin is synonymous with criminal
Lesser than
White skin synonymous with oppressor

We must first become brothers.

So we will rise peacefully

Descendants of the changemakers of our past.
Conscious of our rights. Knees bent and
fists raised.

Chaos or community
In the end,
We must live together.
Will we stop and listen to each other?
Or will we remain blind to the pain of
others.
46
We must first become brothers.

ISAIAH
Have you got your applications all done yet?

TRAVIS
[sheepish]
Yeah, mostly. [pause] Hey, I want you to stay here in town
so we can go to college together later, ya know? After some
time maybe you can transfer to state with me.

ISAIAH
I dont know man, I think im gonna go away for college.

TRAVIS
Really? Where?

ISAIAH
Probably LA, there is a lot of opportunity in that city.
TRAVIS
Whats the colleges name?

ISAIAH
Los Angeles City College
(smiles and looks up at Travis)

TRAVIS
Well if you wanna come back down to visit, LA isnt too far
away.

ISAIAH
For sure man, but Ive realized that I really need to catch
up education-wise. I wont let anyone hold me back anymore!

TRAVIS
Right on man, thats the way to think, thats the way to
act!

ISAIAH
This is what everyone in my position should do. Do the best
they can with what they have,

Scene

Colin Kaepernick is standing with numerous

reporters from different news stations asking
questions. The questions specifically asking
about why he would not stand for the National
Anthem at the game.

47
 INTERVIEWER #1

Colin, how do you feel about the game last night?

COLIN KAEPERNICK
I mean, it could have gone way better. I think that
the touchdown in the last quarter could have been
avoided. But we did our best, and the Packers played a
good game tonight.

INTERVIEWER #2

Colin, regarding your actions, y-your sitting during

the national anthem, what are you trying to accomplish
with your protest? What is your endgame?

COLIN KAEPERNICK

I mean ultimately, its to bring awareness and make

people realize whats really going on in this country.
There are a lot of things going on that are unjust,
people arent being held accountable for, and thats
something that needs to change.
Thats something that this country stands for.
Liberty, freedom, and justice for all, and its not
happening for all right now.

INTERVIEWER #3

Will you continue, Colin, to sit? Will you continue to

sit?

COLIN KAEPERNICK

Yes, I will continue to sit, and Im going to continue

to stand with the people and oppressed. But to me this
is something that has to change and when there is
significant change and I feel like that flag
represents who its supposed to represent then Ill
stand.
INTERVIEWER #4

Specifically, what would you like to see change in

order for you to stand?

3
COLIN KAEPERNICK

Theres a lot of things that need to change. One

specifically is police brutality. There are people

48
 being murdered unjustly. Cops are getting paid leave
for killing people, thats not right. Thats not right
by anyones standards.

INTERVIEWER #5
In your mind have you been pulled over unjustly or had bad
experiences?
COLIN KAEPERNICK
Yes, multiple times. One of my roommates was moving out of
the house in college and because we were the only black
people in that neighborhood the cops got called and we had
guns drawn on us. They came in the house, without knocking,
guns drawn on my teammates and roommates. So I have
experienced this. People close to me have experienced this.
This isnt something thats a one-off case here or a one-
off case there. This has become habitual. This has become a
habit. So this is something that needs to be addressed.
INTERVIEWER #6

Colin, so many people see the flag as a symbol of the

military, what do you say to those people?
(Stage lights grow dark behind Kaepernick, making
the setting disappear. The National Anthem
softly begins to play. Eric Reid, Jeremy Lane,
Megan Rapinoe, Brandon Marshall, Dolphin Player
#1-4, High School Football Player #1-4 walk onto
stage, scattered throughout [Dolphin players and
HS football players stay relatively close] they
are standing in their place)

COLIN KAEPERNICK

I have great respect for the men and women that have
fought for this country. I have family and I have
friends who have gone and fought for this country.
They fight for freedom, they fight for the people,
they fight for liberty and justice for everyone, but
sadly thats not happening. (Eric Reid kneels) I mean
people are dying in vain because
4
this country isnt holding their end of the bargain up
as far as giving freedom to everybody. Its something
thats not happening, and Ive seen videos. Ive seen
circumstances where men and women who have been in the
military have come back and been treated unjustly by
the country they fought for. Thats not right. (Jeremy
Lane and Megan Rapinoe kneel)

49
 INTERVIEWER #7

How did your teammates respond when you explained

yourself? And what was the support like for you?

COLIN KAEPERNICK

The support that I got from my teammates was great. I

think a lot of my teammates come from areas where this
is a serious situation, their families may be put in
this situation. I have had a lot of people come up to
me and say I really respect you for what youre doing
and what youre standing for. (Brandon Marshall
kneels) So to me thats something that, I know what
Im doing is right and I know that other people who
see what Im doing is right.(Dolphin players #1-4
kneel together, locking arms) Its something where we
have to come together to unite, we have to unify and
make a change.

INTERVIEWER# 8

What do you say to people who say, youre doing the

right thing, but youre going about it the wrong way?

COLIN KAEPERNICK

I dont understand how its the wrong way. To me, this

is a freedom that we are allowed in this country.
Going back to the military thing, its a freedom that
men and women who have fought for this country have
given me.(HS football players #1-4 kneel together,
locking arms) So I dont see it as going about it the
wrong way, this is something that has to be said, it
has to be brought the the forefront of everyones
attention, and when thats done I think people will
realize what the situation is, and then really affect
change.

(Colin nods his head to reporters and thanks them.

Colin then backs up off the stool and kneels in unison
with the athletes behind him until the Anthem is over.
After the song ends they all raise their hands in a
black power fist.)

(BLACKOUT)

50
 OFFICER WALDEN

But you know in 10 hours when it's night time and

everybody is asleep and you hear somebody else in your
backyard jiggling the door who you going to call? Yes you
guessed it. You know it's just one of the key things TO
REMEMBER, it's a dangerous job sometimes, and it's a
thankless job. People get upset with us but I think overall
people are well intentioned look into the right thing and
that's what I tell the officers, I tell them to treat
people the way you want to be treated. Thats the most
important thing always.

CHORUS

Chaos or community
Will we hate
Or will we be
The choice is ours
listen and love
Or close our ears
The difference is chaos or community

MACK

The veil is the idea that black and brown people in

American society operate with a mask on of sorts. Imagine a
veil covering someones face. Not a wedding veil, but like
a funeral veil, a black veil. And so you see some black
person with this veil and you cant really see the nuances
of their face you just see a silhouette. And so that allows
you to draw these stereotypes and these conclusions about
that person. And so a white person looking onto the black
person with the veil Theyre not really gonna understand
them and theyre going to one dimensionalize them. But at
the same time the black person is looking out through that
veil and theyre looking at the white person with the
awareness that the white person is seeing their veil on and
so its this double thing where the black person is
operating knowing that theyre being judged.

Now imagine waking up every morning, putting on a uniform

which is suppose to signify justice, but as of late it
51
represents a target. All you want to do is protect the
community you live in and make it a better place. No one
else can see that since others with similar uniforms have
tainted the symbol of hope with brutality. So now all you
have is people staring at you and seeing you as unjust,
even though your intentions are, To Protect and To Serve.
What can you do to help your community if no one else has
trust in you. What can you do when everyone sees you as the
antagonist.

[Student all come to stage and create a

semi-circle on the stage, each student reads
a single line.]

Isabella
In order to end systemic racism, privileged
people need to stand up to instances of
racism, both big and small, and utilize
their privilege for good.

Taylor
A police officer is killed every 61 hours.

Nadia
In 2015, 42 police officers were killed.

Ernesto
In 2015 police killed 102 unarmed black men- nearly twice
each week.

Marino
Police have killed 897 people in 2016

Zoila
Black Americans make up 6% of the United States population,
and 58% of the prison population, and prison according to
the 13th amendment, denies voting rights.

Ricky
Every 25 seconds a student drops out of high school.

Ethan/ Carlos
The rate of incarceration for high school dropouts is 68%
higher than college graduates.

Aaron
1 in 17 White men will be incarcerated in their lifetime.

52
 Aly
1 in 3 Black men will be incarcerated in their lifetime.

Matthew
On Wednesday November 23 Officer Colin Rose was killed in
the line of duty in Detroit Michigan

Kristina (or Antonio)

On Saturday October 1st, Alfred Olango, an unarmed black
man was shot and killed in El Cajon.

Gabi
We all wonder how to make sense of the deaths, but some
things dont abide by sense and logic.

Anthony
We know that there are a lot of systems that people are
blind to, and when we open our eyes to see how they work,
and how they are broken-- when we all do that-- we will
start to see positive change.

Mack
Both sides have stories and both have people that are
affected negatively when only hate and anger is used. We
have to be able to look past what we see in front of us and
look at whats behind the veil and uniform. As Dr. King
famously said, Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only
light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love
can do that.

-FIN-

53