A new video aims to provide answers to the minority community, on police use of deadly force. The 15 minute video was unveiled in Madison Mayor Paul Soglin’s office on Monday, and comes as Madison awaits a decision by the Dane County District Attorney on the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen by a white police officer.
Bishop Harold Rayford with Madison’s African American Council of Churches said that the video addresses a need for information, in the wake of Tony Robinson’s death. D.A. Ismael Ozanne has scheduled a press conference for 2:30 Tuesday afternoon.
“We realized that our community didn’t fully understand the process the district attorney is going through, to make his decision,” Rayford said. “We encourage the schools and students and young people to take the few minutes necessary to watch this video, and learn the legal process and understand the laws that are at work here.
The video, “Understanding Police Use of Force,” was created by members of the Black and Latino Law Student Associations, at UW Law School. “We thought that this video was important, we saw a need in our community,” said Jared Prado, one of several students who explain use of force in the video, which can be viewed at the City of Madison website and on YouTube.
Mayor Paul Soglin was asked whether the video might be a starting point, for discussions about whether policies on the use of deadly force by police officers need to be reviewed and modified. “I don’t see how those who are engaged in discussions about change can start without knowing the basis for existing laws, and why they exist,” Soglin said.
