[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.72,0:00:03.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One summer afternoon in 2013,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.34,0:00:06.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,D.C. police detained,\Nquestioned and searched
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.32,0:00:09.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a man who appeared suspicious\Nand potentially dangerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.34,0:00:12.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This wasn't what I was wearing\Nthe day of the detention,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.96,0:00:13.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be fair,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.96,0:00:15.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I have a picture of that as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.72,0:00:17.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know it's very frightening --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.22,0:00:18.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,try to remain calm.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.47,0:00:19.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.47,0:00:20.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this time,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.86,0:00:24.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was interning at the Public\NDefender Service in Washington D.C.,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.91,0:00:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was visiting a police\Nstation for work.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.30,0:00:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was on my way out,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.30,0:00:30.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and before I could make it to my car,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.31,0:00:32.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two police cars pulled up\Nto block my exit,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.64,0:00:34.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an officer approached me from behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.99,0:00:36.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told me to stop,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.18,0:00:37.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,take my backpack off
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.29,0:00:40.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put my hands on the police car\Nparked next to us.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.91,0:00:43.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About a dozen officers\Nthen gathered near us.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.82,0:00:45.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of them had handguns,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.09,0:00:46.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some had assault rifles.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.46,0:00:48.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They rifled through my backpack,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.31,0:00:49.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they patted me down,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.74,0:00:52.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they took pictures of me\Nspread on the police car
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.05,0:00:53.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they laughed.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.12,0:00:54.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as all this was happening --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.74,0:00:57.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as I was on the police car trying\Nto ignore the shaking in my legs,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.88,0:01:00.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to think clearly\Nabout what I should do --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.40,0:01:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something stuck out to me as odd.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.52,0:01:04.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I look at myself in this photo,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.44,0:01:06.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I were to describe myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.30,0:01:08.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think I'd say something like,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.28,0:01:10.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"19-year-old Indian male,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.94,0:01:12.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bright T-shirt,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.02,0:01:13.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wearing glasses."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.55,0:01:16.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they weren't including any\Nof these details into their police radios
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.93,0:01:17.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they described me.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.94,0:01:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They kept saying, "Middle Eastern\Nmale with a backpack.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.52,0:01:22.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Middle Eastern male with a backpack."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.94,0:01:25.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this description carried on\Ninto their police reports.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.61,0:01:31.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never expected to be described\Nby my own government in these terms:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.20,0:01:33.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"lurking ...
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.36,0:01:35.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nefarious ...
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.99,0:01:37.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,terrorist."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.10,0:01:38.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the detention dragged on like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.98,0:01:43.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They sent dogs trained to smell explosives\Nto sweep the area I'd been in.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.03,0:01:46.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They called the federal government\Nto see if I was on any watch lists.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.33,0:01:49.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They sent a couple of detectives\Nto cross-examine me on why,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.21,0:01:51.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I claimed I had nothing to hide,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.50,0:01:53.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wouldn't consent to a search of my car.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.46,0:01:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I could see they\Nweren't happy with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.48,0:01:58.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I felt I had no way of knowing\Nwhat they'd want to do next.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.75,0:02:01.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At one point, the officer\Nwho patted me down
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.67,0:02:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scanned the side of the police station\Nto see where the security camera was
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.22,0:02:07.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see how much of this\Nwas being recorded.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.12,0:02:09.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when he did that,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.26,0:02:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it really sank in how completely\NI was at their mercy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.91,0:02:15.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think we're all normalized\Nfrom a young age
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.21,0:02:18.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the idea of police officers\Nand arrests and handcuffs,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.89,0:02:22.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it's easy to forget how demeaning\Nand [coercive] a thing it is
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.86,0:02:25.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to seize control over\Nanother person's body.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.85,0:02:27.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know it sounds like\Nthe point of my story
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.86,0:02:30.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is how badly treated I was\Nbecause of my race --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.48,0:02:33.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yes, I don't think I would've been\Ndetained if I were white --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.57,0:02:36.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but actually what I have in mind\Ntoday is something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.23,0:02:38.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I have in mind is how\Nmuch worse things might've been
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.97,0:02:40.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I weren't affluent.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.40,0:02:43.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, they thought I might be\Ntrying to plant an explosive,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.35,0:02:46.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they investigated that possibility\Nfor an hour-and-a-half,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.54,0:02:48.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I was never put in handcuffs,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.27,0:02:50.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was never taken to a jail cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.16,0:02:51.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think if I were from
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.66,0:02:54.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of Washington D.C.'s\Npoor communities of color,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.25,0:02:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they thought I was\Nendangering officers' lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.67,0:02:58.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things might've ended differently.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.30,0:02:59.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.30,0:03:00.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in our system,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.30,0:03:02.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's better\Nto be an affluent person
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.35,0:03:04.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suspected of trying\Nto blow up a police station
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.55,0:03:08.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than it is to be a poor person who's\Nsuspected of much, much less than this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.62,0:03:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to give you an example\Nfrom my current work.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.51,0:03:14.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right now, I'm working for\Na civil rights organization in D.C.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.71,0:03:16.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called Equal Justice Under Law.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.13,0:03:20.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me start by asking you all a question.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.03,0:03:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of you have ever gotten\Na parking ticket in your life?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.00,0:03:24.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Raise your hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.09,0:03:25.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, so have I.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.09,0:03:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when I had to pay it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.40,0:03:29.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it felt annoying and it felt bad,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.45,0:03:31.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I paid it and I moved on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.61,0:03:34.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm guessing most of you have paid\Nyour tickets as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.68,0:03:38.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what would happen if you couldn't\Nafford the amount on the ticket
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.99,0:03:41.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and your family doesn't have\Nthe money either?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.15,0:03:42.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What happens then?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.26,0:03:45.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, one thing that's not supposed\Nto happen under the law
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.03,0:03:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is you're not supposed to be\Narrested and jailed
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.26,0:03:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply because you can't afford to pay.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.54,0:03:51.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's illegal under federal law,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.31,0:03:54.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that's what local govenerments\Nacross the country are doing
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.26,0:03:55.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to people who are poor.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.50,0:03:58.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so many of our lawsuits\Nat Equal Justice Under Law
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.44,0:04:01.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,target these modern-day debtor's prisons.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.95,0:04:04.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of our cases is against\NFerguson, Missouri,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.84,0:04:06.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I know when I say Ferguson,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.63,0:04:08.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,many of you will think of police violence,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.80,0:04:10.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but today I want to talk about\Na different aspect
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.04,0:04:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the relationship between\Nthe police force and their citizens.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.61,0:04:18.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ferguson was issuing an average\Nof over two arrest warrants per person,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.98,0:04:20.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,per year,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.29,0:04:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mostly for unpaid debt for the courts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.25,0:04:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I imagine what that would feel like\Nif every time I left my house
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.39,0:04:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was a chance a police officer\Nwould run my license plate,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.43,0:04:31.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see a warrant for unpaid debt,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.11,0:04:33.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seize my body they way the did in DC
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.14,0:04:36.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then take me to a jail cell,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.26,0:04:37.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel a little sick.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.91,0:04:41.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've met many of the people in Ferguson\Nwho have experienced this,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.99,0:04:43.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've heard some of their stories.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.95,0:04:45.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.52,0:04:48.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in each small cell there's\Na bunk bed and a toilet,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.65,0:04:50.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they pack four people into each cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.10,0:04:53.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there'd be two people on the bunks\Nand two people on the floor,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.83,0:04:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one with nowhere to go except\Nright next to the filthy toilet
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.66,0:04:57.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was never cleaned.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.06,0:04:59.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact the whole cell was never cleaned,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.93,0:05:03.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the floor and the walls were lined\Nwith blood and mucus.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.30,0:05:05.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No water to drink
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.46,0:05:08.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except coming out of the spigot\Nconnected to the toilet.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.24,0:05:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The water looked and tasted dirty,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.93,0:05:10.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was never enough food,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.46,0:05:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,never any showers.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.100,0:05:15.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Women menstruating without\Nany hygiene products --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.80,0:05:17.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no medical attention whatsoever.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.52,0:05:19.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I asked a woman\Nabout medical attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.93,0:05:20.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she laughed,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.71,0:05:22.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she said, "Oh, no no.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.35,0:05:25.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only attention you get \Nfrom the guards in there is sexual."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.98,0:05:28.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, they'd take the debtors\Nto this place and they'd say,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.81,0:05:31.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We're not letting you leave until\Nyou make a payment on your debt."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.31,0:05:33.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you could --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.43,0:05:36.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you could call a family member who\Ncould somehow come up with some money,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.06,0:05:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then maybe you were out.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.60,0:05:39.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If it was enough money,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.56,0:05:40.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you were out.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.70,0:05:41.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if it wasn't,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.74,0:05:43.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then you'd stay there for days or weeks,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.01,0:05:46.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every day the guards\Nwould come down to the cells
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.84,0:05:50.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and haggle with the debtors about\Nthe price of release that day.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.83,0:05:55.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'd stay until at some point the jail\Nwould be booked to capacity,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.15,0:05:56.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they'd want to book someone new in,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.58,0:05:57.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and at that point they'd think,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.56,0:06:00.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,OK, it's unlikely this person\Ncan come up with the money,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.26,0:06:01.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's more likely this new person will,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.18,0:06:03.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're out, they're in,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.45,0:06:05.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the machine kept moving like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.17,0:06:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a man who,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.38,0:06:09.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nine years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.41,0:06:12.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was arrested for panhandling\Nin a Walgreens.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.61,0:06:16.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He couldn't afford his fines\Nand his court fees from that case.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.62,0:06:19.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When he was young he survived a house fire
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.69,0:06:22.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only because he jumped out\Na third-story window to escape.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.75,0:06:24.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that fall left him\Nwith damage to his brain
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.87,0:06:25.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and several parts of this body,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.08,0:06:26.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including his leg.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.91,0:06:27.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he can't work,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.02,0:06:30.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he relies on social security\Npayments to survive.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.89,0:06:32.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I met him in his apartment,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.77,0:06:33.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he had nothing of value there --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.16,0:06:35.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not even food in his fridge.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.25,0:06:36.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was chronically hungry.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.34,0:06:39.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had nothing of value in his apartment\Nexcept a small piece of cardboard
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.78,0:06:41.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on which he'd written\Nthe names of children.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.02,0:06:43.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He cherished this a lot,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.48,0:06:44.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was happy to show it to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.71,0:06:47.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he can't pay his fines and fees\Nbecause he has nothing to give.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.16,0:06:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the last nine years,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.83,0:06:51.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he's been arrested 13 times,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.64,0:06:55.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and jailed for 130 days\Non that panhandling case.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.84,0:06:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of those stretches lasted 45 days.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.82,0:07:04.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just imagine spending from right now\Nuntil sometime in June
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.54,0:07:07.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the place that I described to you\Na few moments ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.74,0:07:12.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told me about all the suicide attempts\Nhe's seen in Ferguson's jail.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.90,0:07:15.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About the time a man found\Na way to hang himself
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.20,0:07:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out of reach of the other inmates,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.97,0:07:19.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so all they could do was yell\Nand yell and yell,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.66,0:07:21.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to get the guard's attention
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.36,0:07:23.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they could come down and cut him down.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.61,0:07:27.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he told me that it took the guards\Nover five minutes to respond,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.48,0:07:27.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when they came,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.08,0:07:29.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they man was unconcious,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.72,0:07:32.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they called the paramedics\Nand the paramedics went to the cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.44,0:07:33.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They said, "He'll be OK,"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.12,0:07:35.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they just left him there on the floor.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.41,0:07:39.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I heard many stories like this\Nand they shouldn't have surprised me,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.38,0:07:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because suicide is the single leading\Ncause of death in our local jails.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.03,0:07:46.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is related to the lack\Nof mental healthcare in our jails.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.98,0:07:47.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a woman,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.04,0:07:48.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a single mother of three,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.12,0:07:50.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,making seven dollars an hour.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.14,0:07:53.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She relies on food stamps to feed\Nherself and her children.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.23,0:07:55.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About a decade ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.93,0:07:59.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she got a couple of traffic tickets\Nand a minor theft charge,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.84,0:08:01.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she can't afford her fines\Nand fees on those cases.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.89,0:08:06.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since then, she's been jailed\Nabout 10 times on those cases,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.62,0:08:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but she has schizophrenia\Nand bipolar disorder,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.87,0:08:10.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she needs medication every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.96,0:08:13.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She doesn't have access to those\Nmedications in Ferguson's jail
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.42,0:08:15.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because no one has access\Nto their medications.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.38,0:08:20.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As she told me about what it was like\Nto spend two weeks in a cage,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.50,0:08:23.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hallucinating people and shadows\Nand hearing voices,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.99,0:08:25.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,begging for the medication\Nthat would make it all stop,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.13,0:08:27.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only to be ignored.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.57,0:08:30.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this isn't anomalous either:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.54,0:08:33.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thirty percent of women in our local jails\Nhave serious mental health needs
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.95,0:08:35.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like hers,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.30,0:08:39.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but only one in six receive mental\Nhealth care while in jail.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.88,0:08:40.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, I heard all these stories\Nabout this grotesque dungeon
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Ferguson was operating\Nfor its debtors,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when it came time for me to actually\Nsee it and to go visit Ferguson's jail,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not sure what I was expecting to see,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I wasn't expecting this.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an ordinary governement building,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it could be a Post office or a school.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It reminded me that these\Nillegal extortion schemes
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aren't being run somewhere in the shadows,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're being run out in the open\Nby our public officials.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're a matter of public policy.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this reminded me\Nthat poverty jailing in general,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even outside the debtors prison context,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plays a very visible and central role\Nin our justice system.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I have in mind is our policy of bail.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In our system,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether you're detained or free,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pending trial,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not a matter of how dangerous you are\Nor how much of a flight risk you pose,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a matter of whether you can afford\Nto post your bail amount.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Bill Cosby,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose bail was set a one million dollars,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,immediately writes the check
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and doesn't spend a second in a jail cell.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Sandra Bland,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who died in jail,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was only there because her family\Nwas unable to come up with 500 dollars.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are half a million Sandra Blands\Nacross the country.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,500,000 people who are in jail right now
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only because they can't\Nafford their bail amount.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're told that our jails\Nare places for criminals,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but statistically that's not the case:
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,three out of every five people\Nin jail right now
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are there pre-trial.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They haven't been convicted of any crime,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they haven't plead guilty to any offense.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right here in San Francisco,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,85 percent of the inmates\Nin our jail in San Francisco
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are pre-trial detainees.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means San Francisco is spending\Nsomething like 80 million dollars
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every year
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to fund pre-trial detention.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many of these people who are in jail\Nonly because they can't post bail
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are facing allegations to minor
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the amount of time it would take\Nfor them to sit waiting for trial
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is longer than the sentence they\Nwould receive if convicted,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means they're guaranteed\Nto get out faster
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they just plead guilty.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now the choice is,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,should I stay here in this horrible place,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,away from my family\Nand my dependents,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,almost guaranteed to lose my job,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then fight charges,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or should I just plead guilty\Nto whatever the prosecutor wants
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and get out?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at this point\Nthey're pre-trial detainees,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not criminals.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But once they take that plea deal,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll call them criminals,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though an affluent person would\Nnever have been in this situation,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because an affluent person would\Nhave simply been bailed out.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this point you might be wondering,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this guy's in the inspiration section,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what is he doing --
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is extremely depressing.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want my money back.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in actuality,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I find talking about jailing much less\Ndepressing than the alternative,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I think if we don't\Ntalk about these issues
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and collectively change how\Nwe think about jailing,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the end of all of our lives,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll still have jails full of poor\Npeople who don't belong there.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That really is depressing to me.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what's exciting to me is the thought
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that these stories can moves us to think\Nabout jailing in different terms.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not in sterile policy terms\Nlike "mass incarceration,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or sentencing of non-violent offenders,"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in human terms.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we put a human being in a cage\Nfor days, or weeks, or months
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even years,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what are we doing\Nto that person's mind and body?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Under what conditions are we\Nreally willing to do that?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so if starting with a few hundred\Nof us in this room
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can commit to thinking about\Njailing in this different light,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we can undo that normalization\NI was referring to earlier.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if I leave you with anything today,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope it's with the thought
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if want anything\Nto fundamentally change --
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not just to reform our policies\Non bail and fines and fees --
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also to make sure that whatever\Nnew policies replace those
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't punish the poor and the margenalized\Nin their own new way.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we want that kind of change,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then this shift in thinking\Nis required of each of us.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)