By: Morgan Jacobus, Staff Writer
On Feb. 11, the Black Student Alliance (BSA) helped host the fourth screening of the docuseries, When They See Us. BSA President Eryn Rideout coordinated with the mayor’s office along with other organizations around Denver about this series around three months ago. When They See Us is a Netflix docuseries that was released May 31, 2019 about the Central Park Five who were accused and wrongfully convicted of the assault and rape of a jogger. The story of the five spans over a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in spring 1989 to their exoneration in 2002 to the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.
“I think the mayor’s office wanted to show this series now even though it came out like a year ago because these things are still happening today… it is not something that we can just act like it is not happening anymore,” said BSA president Eryn Rideout.
Eryn mentioned how Regis was able to host two of the screenings, which was a unique opportunity to inform and encourage Regis students and community to make a change.
“I think it is important to have it here, because Regis is a very much, I sometimes call it an ally-ship school. I don’t consider it a social justice institution necessarily just because these issues don’t get talked about at all in the depth they need to be talked about, and they don’t get talked about in the right ways, so I feel like this was pertinent to us doing it especially during black history month. It is still happening every day and we need to have these discussions so we as students can know what to do so that this doesn’t happen again,” said Rideout.
The series consists of four episodes: The Crime, The Trial, The Aftermath, and The End. At each screening, there were different focuses in the conversations depending on what each episode was about.
The first screening, held at Metro State University, had attendance of about 15 people, “Because that episode talked about the interrogations that the boys had to go through we mainly focused on that and we also went into things we can do, students especially, in our own communities and out in Denver to help with police brutality and these kinds of situations,” said Rideout.
The second screening was at Regis, and featured some students and an alumni as panelists, with a crowd of around 20 people. Since that episode was about the boys being tried and convicted, “We were focusing on media because in that episode that was a big proponent to why the boys were vilified before they even went to trial,” said Rideout. Each episode prompts new topics for discussion and consideration for those that chose to attend.
Though the third screening was unfortunately cancelled due to weather, Rideout explained how that episode entailed life after being convicted, in which three of the boys got out of juvie or finished their sentences. This episode brought up questions of how people are supposed to reenter society when so many factors are against them.
The last episode and final screening was the most attended and likely most anticipated event. It was about Korey: the oldest of the five that had to serve his sentence in adult prison which came along with its own set of challenges. This episode also showed the person who actually committed the crimes stepping forward to confess, and how they were finally exonerated. For this screening they had a panel comprised of six individuals from various organizations around Denver that all see importance in this issue. There were attorneys, the mayor, and community members from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.
“I loved the panel, I’m glad that they brought such great people who have seen these things unfortunately, but I think it was a great perspective to understand that these things are still happening every day and I think it just made it more than a docuseries or more than a movie to people and they are wonderful, they are doing great work out in the Denver community,” said Rideout.
The panel discussed several issues, from the justice system, parenting, the media, and the impact we have an opportunity to make as a community and as students. Each of the panelists had experiences with wrongful conviction or had someone (sometimes more than one person) they knew that was a victim of wrongful conviction. With each of them coming from different perspectives, along with bringing their own personal experiences with these issues, they each had their reasons for being a part of the panel as well as why they thought this docuseries was important.
For some of the panelists, they see the recurrence of unfortunate events like those in When They See Us, and how it is not an isolated incident, but one that continues to happen and will happen if we do not change something.
“What I got from the movie is how little things have changed, and how much we are still doing the same things … we are still trying children as adults. We are doing the exact same thing over and over again now,” said Attorney Joyce Akhahenda.
All the panelists had their own take on why the docuseries showings were so vital.
“This particular event is put on by the mayor’s office of community outreach. We were talking about how it is so important for you all not only to be involved but to lead the charge. It’s easy to say well that happened in New York that is certainly not happening here or its not happened in my life,” said Gloria Neal, who is a part of constituency affairs in the mayor’s office.
Other panelists were struck by the sheer injustice in the docuseries, as well as in our society.
“The reason I wanted to be a part of this was this case is famous, but also there are so many other cases that aren’t famous. I have been blessed throughout my life and I feel that it is important for me to give back and that is why I do the work I do but, also, this showing is about the things that are most important to me: social justice, racial justice, and juvenile justice, and all three of those are all linked together in the Central Park Five case,” said Attorney Courtney Denson.
Angela Hutton-Hall, vice president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, who was involved as one of the sponsors of the event, explained how she didn’t really know the real story behind the exonerated five, and emphasized the importance of becoming aware and informed that these things happen. “Like Dr. Martin Luther King said, ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’” she said.
Many panelists were advocating for the rights of juveniles, and how cases like these treat them unfairly.
“What it says to me is these are children, their brains are not fully developed. It really does say to me that it is a crime to be a person of color… You cannot forget that these are still children, and I think that is what is often lost,” said Attorney Nicole Duncan, who is a juvenile public defender.
Overall though, each of the panelists expressed the importance of change, as well as emphasizing the impact that us as students can make.
“I thought it was important to at least start a discussion and talk about it. We aren’t going to fix anything by having a discussion in this room, but it is the start of the solution… I hope the lesson you can take from this is the opportunity to be just and fair… use that in your everyday lives and in your future careers,” said panelist Steven Tilghman.
That sentiment was obviously shared.
“This movie is a call to action. I think we continue to need new leaders to step up to accommodate and find out the injustice in our community. If we can make a difference that is really what we want to do. I am really passionate about equal rights and fair for all,” said panelist Milford Adams.
Ultimately, the basic goal of these screenings, panelists, and discussions was to prompt thought and reflection within the Denver community. Just being able to get people to see what they previously hadn’t allows them to expand their perspective on what is happening in the world around them.
“A lot of people here hadn’t seen the docuseries, so I honestly mainly wanted people to come and see it and be in a space where they would be able to discuss it since it is such a powerful docuseries. That was my main hope, is that people would come see it here,” said Rideout.
Rideout’s goal was achieved in the end with great attendance at the final event.
“It was such a powerful movie, if you haven’t seen it you got to see it,” said Denver mayor, Michael Hancock.