On Thursday, January 23- We had a wonderful visit from Candis Tolliver from the NYCLU.

We had contacted Candis and coordinated a visit in 2013, when we met with the NYCLU to talk about Stop and Frisk and Police brutality. (To see more look at post Visit With NYCLU) Riley had been contacting her, and after long hours of trying to coordinate a meeting, Thursday the 23, pajama day. But it didn’t matter, we met with Candis 15 minutes before to set up the room. She seems happy to meet us and we let her set up her regular seminar that she gave of Stop and Frisk and know your rights.

By coincidence, at Middle School Meeting on Wednesday, four high school-students told everyone about their encounters with Police Officers and being stopped and Frisked. The four ended up coming to here Candis speak. We learned about how Stop and Frisk touches nearly all black and hispanic men. Candis gave us an example of her speaking to a group of black students, and them making fun of the only boy who hadn’t been stopped by the NYPD.

She also said that Stop and Frisk had always existed, just the phrase hadn’t. It also exists across the world, not just in New York City. She told us how Stop and Frisk also touches white people, all people are affected by perversion of the law.

While my group may already know most of what Candis was speaking about, or at least more than others, I learned so much about the rights I have. I cannot be submitted to searches at a subway station (but if I refuse, I must leave), and that possession of marijuana is only illegal if lit, or displayed in front of a police officer.

I think that with the facts that Candis and the NYCLU has given us, we could make a small, pre-teach in lesson (at middle school maybe?).

I know we can use the info Candis has given us, and I am excited for future Stop and Frisk projects.