All Def Digital town hall on criminal justice reform kicks off in L.A.

By Michael X | Last updated: Jul 12, 2016 - 2:38:18 PM

Women from the audience including Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles activist Jasmine Richards (middle) with Russell Simmons and Daniel X (far left) a member of the Fruit of Islam from the Nation of Islam. Photo: Marcus F. Benigno

LOS ANGELES—Russell Simmons’ All Def Digital, an online and web-based media platform, moved into social justice programming by launching its first ever town hall. This was the first of a recurring series of conversations and town halls on social justice issues affecting urban communities, marginalized segments of society, and youth in disproportionate ways. This particular town hall focused principally on criminal justice reform and policing.

The event was held on June 23 at the Montalban Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. and was also broadcast on Facebook Live.

“This is a birth of a series of talks about criminal justice but if you think about the effects of the prison industrial complex on the Black community, were talking about church communities where church culture reigns, to prison communities where prison culture reigns” said Russell Simmons’ to a packed audience filled to capacity with activists, celebrities and people representing different organizations.

Hosted by Mr. Simmons the All Def Digital Town Hall panel facilitated by professor, author and political commentator, Melissa Harris Perry dealt with issues permeating America mainly among Black and Brown communities. Various questions were posed by Prof. Perry to panelists to address the countless acts of clear police brutality, misconduct, killings and the lack of accountability by the U.S. Justice Department. On the question and subject on the right to bear arms, NYC Justice League co-founder Carmen Perez stated, “We really need to come together and build a collective agenda for Black and Brown people because we are the victims of gun violence, not only from within our own communities but at the hands of police”.

“How do we get the guns out of the hands of Mr. Zimmerman” asked Ms. Perry. “The second amendment doesn’t give individuals a fundamental right to carry weapons. It’s about giving the states the authority to have their own National Guard. What’s the point of an assault weapon? An assault weapon is for killing people” said panelist Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Panel discussion (left to right) with facilitator Melissa Harris Perry, Wanda Johnson, TY Dolla $ign, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Michael De La Rocha, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Gregory Thomas, Carmen Perez and Attorney Ben Crump at the Montalban Theatre in Los Angeles. Photo: Marcus F. Benigno

Wanda Johnson, mother of Oscar Grant who was shot and killed while handcuffed by BART Police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, 2009 participated in a one on one interview during the town hall. The discussion centered on Black mothers being so accustomed to losing their children to gun violence that they become desensitized.

“I vow to continue to talk about what happened with my son, Oscar as long as I’m living. You would think having conversations with your children about obeying the law would save them but clearly this is not the case when it comes to Black and Brown people in America,” said Ms. Johnson.

“Our society has conditioned, told and said that our African American young men are violent, they’re criminals, they’re no good, and we have programmed our society to believe that, when they have been created uniquely different. They have special gifts, talents and abilities that they can use” said Ms. Johnson as the audience applauded her point.

The second half of the town hall included another group of panelists from writer, producer and artist Ty Dolla $ign, to musician, writer and founder of Revolve Impact, Michael De La Rocha. There was a discussion about the criminal justice system as a trap for Black men growing up and surviving the streets.

Ty Dolla $ign spoke about his personal encounters with police and how the prison industrial complex and interactions with law enforcement has personally affected him. “My brother is in jail right now for life for something that he didn’t do, and basically growing up we would always get messed with by the police,” he said.

“We wonder is there any safe place to be Black in the American system?” asked Ms. Perry.

Dr. Melina Abdullah recalled a moment when she and her young son were at a public facility and the four-year old wanted to use the restroom and asked a law enforcement officer for permission. The officer responded by placing his hand on his gun and saying “no you cannot,” said Dr. Abdullah. “Even my four-year-old little boy is not safe. Even my four-year-old little boy was fair game for this officer!” she added.

The dialogue then shifted to the role of artists in the movement for social justice and helping to change the reality of Black, Brown, poor and oppressed people who continue to suffer at the hands of a racist and unjust society. “So what can music, culture and art do to intervene in structural change?” asked Ms. Perry. Talks about art and culture are so relevant when it comes to these kinds of discussions because Hip Hop in particular is a genre of music affecting young people all over the earth.

“Harry Belafonte always quotes Paul Robeson who said, ‘artists are the gatekeepers of truth,’ said musician and writer Michael De La Rocha.

“The radical voice that we so desperately need always have come from the young people and artists who are in every time frame we’re thinking about” Mr. De La Rocha added

The panel included a wrap-up with final remarks from all panelists as well as a Q&A session with the audience, which Nick Cannon the well-known comedian, television executive producer, actor and host helped facilitate.

Golden, an artist signed to Mr. Cannons multi-media company NCredible shared his thoughts about the town hall emphasizing, “It’s important for our people to spark the movement of psychological change and get our young brothers and sisters to think and understand differently”. Those in the audience were encouraged to give their time, body and resources and get up from a seat to do something in the continued fight for justice. Components and excerpts from the town hall will be released online via All Def Digital’s distribution network across social video platforms like Facebook and YouTube, said organizers. Additional town hall discussions are planned.

Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson, uncle of Oscar Grant was also in attendance at the LA launch. “Seeds have been planted in our young people. Someone else will water it, then it will take root and actually cause them to become part of the movement” he told The Final Call.

The Final Call