Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "Policing Is Racially Biased" in NYC and Livestreamed, January 11

Next week, Senator Jeff Sessions, President-elect Trump's pick for attorney general, will face confirmation hearings despite protests from civil rights groups who argue the Senator's past criticisms of Black Lives Matter and the NAACP make him unfit to lead the Department of Justice. Sessions' controversial nomination comes amidst increased demand for racial justice in policing fueled by the highly publicized deaths of black men at the hands of police. But there are some who say that protests following these deaths have fed a narrative of biased policing that the data does not back up. What are the statistics, and how should we interpret them? On Wednesday, January 11, the "fantastic" (The New Yorker) debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. kicks off their spring season with a debate on the motion "Policing Is Racially Biased."

Debating in support of the motion are Marq Claxton, a retired NYPD detective who is currently a director of the Black Law Enforcement Alliance, and Gloria Browne-Marshall, an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former civil rights attorney who litigated cases for Southern Poverty Law Center and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Debating against the motion are Heather Mac Donald, author of whose new book, The War on Cops, argues that raced-based attacks on the criminal justice system are eroding the authority of law, and Harry Stern, a former police officer in Berkeley and prominent criminal defense lawyer.

The debate will be held at NYC's Kaufman Center and stream live online, then air soon after as part of the syndicated public radio show and podcast "Intelligence Squared U.S." On January 11, online viewers can tune in at IQ2US's new website (http://bit.ly/PoliceBias ).

WHAT: Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "Policing Is Racially Biased"

WHEN: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 / Reception 5:45-6:30 / Debate 6:45-8:30 PM

WHERE: Kaufman Center/129 W. 67th Street (bet. Broadway and Amsterdam)/New York, NY 10023

TICKETS: $40 ($12 for students w/ ID). To purchase, visit http://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/

Arguing for the motion:

* Marq Claxton: Black Law Enforcement Alliance & Retired NYPD Detective

Marquez (Marq) Claxton is currently the Director of Public Relations and Political Affairs for the Black Law Enforcement Alliance. Marq is a retired NYPD Detective whose assignments included uniformed and plainclothes patrol enforcement in the 28th precinct in central Harlem, the Organized Crime Control Bureau (Narcotics Division) as both an undercover and investigator and the 90 Precinct Detective Squad (Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Coordinator). Through the Black Law Enforcement Alliance, Marq facilitates many community workshops including: “Surviving Police Interactions”, “Gangs-Our Domestic Terrorists”, “Senior Safety” and “Little Girl Lost-sex trafficking."

* Gloria Browne-Marshall: Associate Professor of Constitutional Law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice & Former Civil Rights Attorney

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is an associate professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is a former civil rights attorney who litigated cases for Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama, Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc. Browne-Marshall is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She is the author of several books including Race, Law, and American Society: 1607 to Present.

Arguing against the motion:

* Heather Mac Donald: Thomas W. Smith Fellow, Manhattan Institute & Author, The War on Cops

Heather Mac Donald is the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal. Mac Donald’s work at City Journal has canvassed a range of topics, including higher education, immigration, policing and “racial” profiling, homelessness and homeless advocacy, criminal-justice reform, and race relations. Mac Donald's newest book, The War on Cops (2016), warns that raced-based attacks on the criminal-justice system, from the White House on down, are eroding the authority of law and putting lives at risk. She is a recipient of the 2005 Bradley Prize.

* Harry Stern: Attorney, Rains Lucia Stern & Former Police Officer

Harry S. Stern is the managing principal for Rains Lucia Stern, a law firm focused on civil litigation and criminal defense. Stern has successfully defended peace officers in a number of high-profile trials. He has also represented college and professional athletes, candidates for elected office and other prominent people in civil and criminal actions in both federal and state court. Prior to becoming an attorney, Stern was a police officer with the City of Berkeley and was a member of the Berkeley Police Association’s Board of Directors. 

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)

A non-partisan, nonprofit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in 2006 to restore civility, reasoned analysis and constructive public discourse to today’s often biased media landscape. The award-winning debate series reaches over 30 million American households through multi-platform distribution, including radio, television, live streaming, podcasts, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps on Roku and Apple TV. With over 130 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008. The executive producer is Dana Wolfe.