Chesco Race And Justice Town Hall Will Focus On Racial Profiling

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — In honor of Black History Month, the Chester County Law Enforcement Task Force on Race and Justice will present a virtual town hall screening of the award-winning documentary film "Walking While Black: L.O.V.E. Is the Answer."

The film screeening and a discussion with the film’s director and producer, A.J. Ali will happen virtually on Feb. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Ali is a service-disabled veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Air Force. His 2017 documentary, updated in 2019, has won international acclaim and has been recognized by the NAACP and others.

"Walking While Black" examines racial profiling and the harm it causes to people of color and their communities. Its message is a powerful one of reconciliation, a news release from law enforcement said.

After the free 60-minute screening, Ali will lead an audience discussion of "Walking While Black" to open communication between law enforcement and residents.

The public is invited to join the town hall-style dialogue and help the task force learn how to improve relations between law enforcement and the community, the news release said.

Registration is here, and those who sign up will receive an email link to the Zoom event.

The Chester County Law Enforcement Task Force on Race and Justice was formed in the summer of 2020 with the mission of improving the relationship between communities of color and law enforcement. It represents a cross-section of the county and task force members include police chiefs, rank-and-file police officers, community leaders, residents of color, the NAACP, social workers, and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office.

The workshop talks try to help participants see situations from the view of others in the community.

The "Walking While Black" town-hall dialogue is one of a series of events and workshops aimed at task force goals in the months since the task force was formed. The Race and Justice Task Force held workshops in West Chester and Coatesville in the fall of 2020 and has others planned in 2021.

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