On June 30, 2013, Communities United For Police Reform launched a new video series to highlight the negative impact of the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy. Produced by Firelight Films, the short documentaries tell the stories of ordinary New Yorkers – and how they and their neighborhoods have been impacted by the policy.
The first video, "Stop-and-Frisk: The High School Senior", tells the story of Flatbush, Brooklyn-based recent high school graduate Kasiem, a member of CPR member LatinoJustice PRLDEF's youth program. Since the age of 13, he has been stopped and frisked 7 times. The first time he was stopped and frisked he was on his way to school to pick up a friend, a part of his daily routine.
The second video, "Stop-and-Frisk: The Pastor" highlights the experience of Reverend Samuel Cruz of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Reverend Cruz talks about the spirit damage inflicted on members of his congregation by stop-and-frisk and calls for a change in the way the NYPD polices New York's poor, working class, immigrant and people of color communities.
In the coming weeks, the campaign will release additional stories highlighting the way that this discriminatory policing policy impacts families, faith communities, the police department, neighborhoods and whole communities. For additional information, to watch the full videos, and connect with others on this issue, please visit: www.whereiamgoing.org. The videos will be accompanied by an online social media conversation, follow, search for the hashtag #WhereIAmGoing.