November 14, 2014
Open forum on racial profiling Nov. 18
Submitted by Justice Davis, Black Student Union president
The K-State Black Student Union will host an open forum on the subject of police racial profiling at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in K-State Student Union's Room 227.
The context for this program is the American Civil Liberties Union Study of June 2013, "The War on Marijuana in Black and White." The study report covers all 50 states, Washington D.C., and selected counties within each state.
According to the study, nationwide, blacks are 3.7 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession; in Kansas, 4.4 times more likely, and in Riley County, three times more likely.
These disturbing statistics are of major concern to K-State's Black Student Union as well as Manhattan community organizers and activists. Because of these concerns, the organization believes that a public forum must be conducted in order to discuss the facts and validity of the 2013 report.
Expert panelists will include:
- Brad Schoen, director of the Riley County Police Department
- John Exdel, associate professor of philosophy and community activist
- Corey Leavell, chair of the Riley County Police Department Community Advisory Board
- Michelle White-Godinet, assistant director of the Office of Institutional Equity and Community Advisory board member
- Jeremy Briggs, instructor of anthropology, sociology and social work
The forum is open to all K-State students/affiliates and members of the Manhattan community. For questions, contact the K-State Black Student Union at sankofa@k-state.edu.