This summer marked a turning point in community and police relationships in two very different cities. With the media focus on the tragic deaths of Eric Garner and Mike Brown, people across the country have begun to reflect on the complex relationships that communities often have with police, and on the underlying causes of these deaths.

In this discussion, law enforcement, policy makers, advocates, journalists, and community leaders will come together to explore the events in Ferguson -- and ask how New York and other cities are responding. What political and economic conditions in Ferguson and minority communities nationally underlie the anger that exploded  in Ferguson? What kinds of policy changes are necessary to prevent more tragedies from occurring - and to prevent continued escalation of tension between police departments and minority communities? And how do we go about making this policy change happen?

Speakers

 - Rembert Browne, staff writer, Grantland

 - Patricia Bynes, committeewoman, Ferguson township

 - Peter Coy,  economics editor, Bloomberg Businessweek

 - Eugene O’Donnell, lecturer, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY

 - Vincent Warren, executive director, Center for Constitutional Rights

Moderated by

 - Jeff Smith, assistant professor of politics and advocacy, The New School

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