UDC event "Busted"

On October 18, 2007, students at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) took some time out of their class schedules to learn about their rights in police encounters. UDC’s American Constitutional Society (UDC-ACS) teamed up with UDC’s Drug Policy Reform Group (DPRG) to stage the Know Your Rights! Presentation Part 1. This event featured lunch, a trivia session, and a video. "Busted," the video produced by the Flex Your Rights Foundation, featured three police encounter situations commonly faced by young people: the traffic stop in a rural area, the noisy house party, and the ID check on the street. For each encounter, the video offered an example of what not to do followed by a re-enactment of how a person who knows their rights should coolly handle the situation. DPRG President Anthony Dimillo asked questions about citizens’ rights before the video to survey what the audience knew. After the video, many audience members were surprised to discover the true status of their rights against law enforcement officers. Not surprisingly, a lively discussion ensued.
The Know Your Rights! Presentation Part 1 was held at UDC’s David A. Clarke School of Law and had a great turnout of UDC undergraduates, law students, and professors, approximately fifty people in all. Professor Margaret Moore and the Department of Urban Affairs Social Sciences & Social Work of UDC greatly contributed to the success of this event.
ACS coordinators were particularly pleased with the undergraduate turnout and the high level of involvement by the audience. UDC-ACS strongly believes that an increased dialogue between the David A. Clarke School of Law and the greater UDC community is beneficial to all schools and crucial to enhancing a marketplace of ideas.
UDC’s Drug Policy Reform Group may be contacted at DPRGOFUDC@GMAIL. COM