Two Sides

Eric Garner's last words, "I can't breathe" became a rallying cry for a movement. His death, which was caught on camera by his close friend, Ramsey Orta, sparked national outrage.This episode will primarily focus on the aftermath of Eric's death and all those who were affected in its wake.

This episode will explore both the legal system (how does someone expunge their record/change the law's perception of them once they're in the system?) and the way in which the government, and police specifically, handle individuals with mental health issues. Ezell Ford grew up in a neighborhood where little to no opportunity was afforded to him outside of petty crime and gang activity. When a 25-year-old with schizophrenia and the mental capacity of a ten-year-old is targeted by police, we're left with the question - is proximity to crime a crime in itself?

This episode will dissect the concept of implicit bias (with expert Jeff Sherman of UC Davis) and the role it played the night a black man walked into a white town's Walmart and picked up a toy bb gun.

Sandra Bland was a 28-year-old woman from Chicago who was in Prairie View,Texas interviewing for jobs. On July 10, 2015, she was stopped by Officer Brian Encinia for not signaling during a lane change. The encounter escalated quickly, with Encinia ultimately throwing Bland to the ground and arresting her for "assaulting a public servant." Due to the violent nature of the charge, Bland was put in a solitary cell away from other inmates.