11 TIMES X NOWNESS



Directed & Shot by SAMANTHA CASOLARI


Produced CORY FELDMAN


Music BRIAN JACKSON "WINTER IN AMERICA (HANDS UP)" / Produced by NICOLAS JAAR



FEATURING:



PETER FOREMAN, 58


Currently in Prison


“In 1975, outside the Grand Concourse train station, a police officer stopped me and said I was a suspect in a


robbery. “He pulled me into the police car, pointed a gun at my head, kicked me in my


torso, then released me.”




KHALID MILS, 27


Circus Hand


I’ve been stopped and searched by the police just walking to the store. Being a tall Black man in the ghetto, you’re


already a suspect to the police.”




BIAZE, 24


Musician, Securty Guard


“After two guys tried to rob me, I was bruised, and my shirt was torn. When my girlfriend saw me, we began to


argue in the street. The cops pulled up, she tried to explain but they hit her face, told


her to shut up, and when I tried to stop them, I was beat up and thrown in jail for four days.”




BRANDON JOSEPH, 18


Student


“I was just shaking my friend’s hand when two cops ran up to me and started reaching into my pockets. I asked


what I did wrong and got no answer, and when they didn’t find anything, they just


walked off like nothing happened.”




ROMAIN ARTIS, 18


Student


“I don’t have a criminal background, but one time a teacher gave me a student MetroCard and I got a ticket


because the police didn’t believe it was mine and I had no proof I was a student.




ALLAN BROWN, 38


Personal Trainer


“I went to get a coffee when a police car pulled up and a white officer rolled down his window and asked what


I was doing there. I said I lived across the street but the officers followed me to my


building, jumped out with their hands on their guns, stopped and searched me for no reason, then let me go.”




CARLOVY, 27


Song Writer, Actor


“Being a Black male in America, let alone New York City, means random searches and being pulled over for no real


reason. I’ve been taken to the precinct for mistaken identity before. Times have


changed, but some things do not change.”




JASON DON CONLEY, 47


School Teacher, Home Mentor for Autistic Children


“I was bike riding from a community garden when four plainclothes cops asked where I was coming from and said


the branch of lemon verbena sticking out of my knapsack looked suspicious. I was


told to get off my bike and I was searched then they let me go and commented that I looked upset.”




ANDRE, 31


Computer Animator


“I’ve been pulled over numerous times, but I am fortunate enough to have a card indicating I have fmily on the


force, which has never failed to alter the officer’s tone. Pretty much every person of


color I know has a ‘if/when I get pulled over’ routine where a series of measures are taken to come across as non


threatening as possible: engine off, hands visible, music off, announce all


movements … some even go as far as to drop their car keys out of the driver side window and stick their hands


outside”
all images and videos © 2021 Samantha Casolari