“Justice in Action: A Juneteenth Screening of John Burris—The Godfather of Police Litigation”

This Juneteenth, the Benicia Public Library, with co-sponsorship by Benicia Black Lives Matter, the City's V.I.B.E. Team, and Ethnic Notions Fine Art Gallery & Bookstore, will commemorate the holiday with a screening of John Burris: The Godfather of Police Litigation, a powerful documentary chronicling the 40-year career of civil rights attorney John Burris and his work confronting police misconduct. Produced by Doug Harris, the film highlights landmark cases including Rodney King, Oscar Grant, and the Oakland Riders scandal.

The program will begin with an introduction to situate the documentary within a broader historical context, examining policing practices from the late 19th century—particularly as slave patrols surveilled, chased and detained runaway and newly freed slaves both prior to and after their enfranchisement as citizens—through to modern reforms such as the Racial Identity and Profiling Act (RIPA). The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Burris, offering attendees an opportunity for deeper engagement and dialogue.