Patrice Cullors

Black Lives Matter Founder Holds Jail Reform Event in Pasadena

Jennifer Bihm, Contributing WriterDecember 12, 2019

Activist, public speaker, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Global Network and Chair of Reform L.A. Jails Patrisse Cullors, joined by four candidates for L.A. County District Attorney, held a panel in Pasadena Saturday, November 9 aimed at raising awareness around mass incarceration and mental illness. During the festive evening event, the panelists/ candidates talked about the importance of redirecting the mentally ill from jail to treatment. Their mission statement has been summed up in the social media hashtags: #REFORMLAJAILS #CARENOTCAGES #CARINGISEASY.

Op-Ed Opinion

L.A. Prosecutors Can Hold Cops More Accountable with One Simple List

Patrisse Cullors July 18, 2019

California is moving toward transparency for bad cops. As we learn more about the violence, biases, misconduct, dishonesty, and abusive acts of law enforcement (in spite of recent efforts by police to erase the evidence) it’s easy to focus on the role cops play in the streets. But equally if not more impactful is the role they play in the courthouse. In almost every criminal case, the prosecutor must call at least one police officer witness in order to prove the charges. Police are professional witnesses, trained to go under oath and testify as to their recollections, actions, findings, and practices. If making the arrest is the first half of their job, working with prosecutors and testifying is the other half.

Entertainment Movies Op-Ed Opinion

Why ‘The Hate U Give’ Is Not a Black Lives Matter Movie

Melina Abdullah and Patrisse Khan-CullorsOctober 18, 2018

Some are touting ‘The Hate U Give,’ as “the first Black Lives Matter movie.” Red flags should have gone up the moment we learned that Fox, recently acquired by Disney, was behind the film with a massive public relations budget, footing the bill for hundreds of advance screenings with celebrity guests, marketing swag, and heavy media saturation – especially in Black markets. We might also wonder about the choice to have Audrey Wells, a White screenwriter whose credits include “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” adapt an urban Black novel for the screen.