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Just for a moment, imagine your community became another Ferguson. Or Minneapolis. Or Louisville. Or any American community where police killed African Americans under questionable circumstances. How would you react? How would your city react? How would your government react? These are the questions that we will explore in Color Lines: From Phillip to Floyd - A Podcast Exploring the American Tragedy of Race, Police Shootings & the Search for Justice In 1990, the town of Teaneck, New Jersey – a community renowned as a national model of racial unity and peace – became embroiled in a confrontation over race and dignity and fairness after a white police officer shot and killed a Black teenager. In this podcast based on journalist Mike Kelly’s book COLOR LINES investigates Teaneck’s history and what the shooting exposed about the racial dilemma that America faced then and continues to face today.
Episodes

Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Bonus Episode: COLOR LINES: FROM PHILLIP TO FLOYD Livestream Q&A
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Thank you to all of our speakers and listeners who joined the COLOR LINES: FROM PHILLIP TO FLOYD Livestream Q&A event on Jun 12, 2021.
Meet the key speakers interviewed in the podcast as we discuss questions on the present moment that is shaping America's future.
Mike Kelly, author of COLOR LINES, and Upward Media Partners’ podcast host Brittany Hanrahan will lead a panel discussion with today’s prominent voices on the following topics:
- Police reform and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
- New approaches to community based policing
- Mental health first aid for public safety and new de-escalation training for interactions involving mental illness
- Impactful legislative changes on federal and state levels
- Closing in on one year after George Floyd's murder - the most critical steps to move forward as a society & nation
Today's livestream speaker panel included:
- Brittany Hanrahan, Host
- Mike Kelly, Journalist and Author, COLOR LINES
- Dan Keashen, Public Information Officer from the Camden New Jersey Police Dept
- Marsha Kazarosian - Prominent civil rights attorney in Massachusetts
- DeWitt Lacy - Renowned Los Angeles Civil Rights attorney
- Dr. Janus Adams -Emmy Award-winning Journalist, Author, Speaker, Host
- Bryan Gibb, consultant focusing on mental health, law-enforcement, and de-escalation training and the former director of public education at the National Council for Behavioral Health.
Thanks for all who joined!
Learn more at https://www.upwardmediapartners.com/colorlinespodcastinterviewseries

Friday Jul 23, 2021
Friday Jul 23, 2021
In 1990, the town of Teaneck, New Jersey - a community renowned as a model of national unity and peace - became embroiled in a confrontation over race, dignity, and fairness after a white police officer shot and killed a Black teenager.
Riots broke out. The town engaged in an examination over its racial policies, from the police department to the school system. Were the efforts of Teaneck, New Jersey dating back to the 1950s to build racial harmony real? Why didn’t those efforts prevent another tragedy of police killing an African-American under questionable circumstances?
Featuring voiceover by the Emmy-winning Keith David, this limited series explores the American tragedy of race, police shootings, and the search for justice. The series features firsthand accounts, insights, and perspectives from the most prominent voices in civil rights and police reform -- from U.S. Senator Cory Booker to Congresswoman Karen Bass to the Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights attorney DeWitt Lacy, journalist and author Dr. Janus Adams, activist Nupol Kiazolu and others.
In this final episode of the podcast series, journalist Mike Kelly and top experts in civil rights and law enforcement rejoin as speakers to share their insights on the impact of the Derek Chauvin conviction for the murder of George Floyd, the intended progress at the federal level for police reform with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and what the past year has meant for American society as a culture and country as it finds a way to move forward.
In honor of the podcast finale, listeners of this episode are encouraged to support Color of Change. Click here to learn more: https://colorofchange.org/
Visit the podcast website to listen to all episodes: https://www.upwardmediapartners.com/colorlinespodcastinterviewseries
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction
2:18 Mike Kelly joins, shares perspective on the times
4:36 Similarities between the cases of Phillip Pannell and George Floyd
5:51 Dr. Janus Adams on the choices America faces and the way forward
9:31 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” -Dr. Janus Adams
11:09 UCLA law professor Joanna Schwartz details what qualified immunity means
12:33 Why qualified immunity makes prosecution of police difficult
15:21 Mike Walker shares the intricacies of working in law enforcement
17:17 Civil rights attorney Marsha Kazarosian on police accountability
21:10 Congresswoman Karen Bass discusses the trial of Derek Chauvin
23:24 Civil rights attorney DeWitt Lacy on how the verdict changes future cases
27:32 Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig on the challenges of police accountability and the legal system going forward
34:57 Reverend Al Sharpton on joining the Floyd family for the verdict and continuing the fight
38:37 Thank you from Upward Media Partners and conclusion

Friday Jun 18, 2021
Friday Jun 18, 2021
In 1990, the town of Teaneck, New Jersey - a community renowned as a model of national unity and peace - became embroiled in a confrontation over race, dignity, and fairness after a white police officer shot and killed a Black teenager.
Riots broke out. The town engaged in an examination over its racial policies, from the police department to the school system. Were the efforts of Teaneck, New Jersey dating back to the 1950s to build racial harmony real? Why didn’t those efforts prevent another tragedy of police killing an African-American under questionable circumstances?
Featuring voiceover by the Emmy-winning Keith David, this limited series explores the American tragedy of race, police shootings, and the search for justice. The series features firsthand accounts, insights, and perspectives from the most prominent voices in civil rights and police reform -- from U.S. Senator Cory Booker to Congresswoman Karen Bass to the Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights attorney DeWitt Lacy, activist Nupol Kiazolu and others.
In this episode, COLOR LINES author and local reporter Mike Kelly explores the implications of the shooting, how the case played out in court, and similarities that persist in court cases over thirty years later. Reverend Al Sharpton also joins to give insight on strengthening the laws for police accountability and reform.
In honor of the podcast episode’s focus, listeners are encouraged to support NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. Click here to learn more: https://www.naacpldf.org/.
Visit the podcast website to listen to all episodes: https://www.upwardmediapartners.com/colorlinespodcastinterviewseries
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction
02:28 Mike Kelly describes how Phillip Pannell was shot
06:35 The mindset of a police officer before shooting
09:39 Reverend Al Sharpton discusses the need to strengthen police accountability laws
13:04 Similarities between court cases over 30 years later
19:04 The impact of 1990s media coverage in Teaneck
22:09 How defense was presented in the Pannell case
22:51 Conclusion

Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
In 1990, the town of Teaneck, New Jersey - a community renowned as a model of national unity and peace - became embroiled in a confrontation over race, dignity, and fairness after a white police officer shot and killed a Black teenager.
Riots broke out. The town engaged in an examination over its racial policies, from the police department to the school system. Were the efforts of Teaneck, New Jersey dating back to the 1950s to build racial harmony real? Why didn’t those efforts prevent another tragedy of police killing an African-American under questionable circumstances?
Featuring voiceover by the Emmy-winning Keith David, this limited series explores the American tragedy of race, police shootings, and the search for justice. The series features firsthand accounts, insights, and perspectives from the most prominent voices in civil rights and police reform -- from U.S. Senator Cory Booker to Congresswoman Karen Bass to the Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights attorney DeWitt Lacy, activist Nupol Kiazolu and others.
In this episode, COLOR LINES author and local reporter Mike Kelly starts by examining the mystery of what happened in Teaneck and powerful perspectives from academic and activists’ voices join the discussion - from Nupol Kiazolu to Dr. John Murillo III and Dr. Janus Adams.
In honor of the podcast episode focus on activism, listeners are encouraged to support Color of Change. Click here to learn more: https://colorofchange.org/.
Visit the podcast website to listen to all episodes: https://www.upwardmediapartners.com/colorlinespodcastinterviewseries
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction
02:34 Mike Kelly on the town of Teaneck
05:29 Nupol Kiazolu on Trayvon Martin and her activism calling
09:27 Dr. John Murillo III on Black culture and existence post-slavery
15:30 Mike Kelly discusses the similarities between Teaneck then and police shootings today
18:13 One woman shares her story of driving and being racially profiled
20:20 Reverend Al Sharpton talks about police accountability
22:34 Dr. Janus Adams examines the root causes of systematic racism
26:12 One woman shares her story witnessing police brutality
28:08 Carrio Bennett discusses police misconduct and the link to urban areas
30:09 Nupol Kiazolu on why activism is essential today for younger generations
31:37 Conclusion

Monday May 31, 2021
1990 Vs. 2020: Police Accountability Then Vs. Now and What the Future Holds
Monday May 31, 2021
Monday May 31, 2021
Starting in Teaneck, New Jersey once again in this week’s episode, we explore the events leading up to the April 1990 shooting of a Black teenager by a white police officer. More than three decades later, the story is illustrative to America’s current moment, demonstrating both the intractability of racial justice in America and the prospect that lasting change may now be possible.
“The killing of Phillip Pannell in 1990 by a white police officer in Teaneck, New Jersey was an American tragedy that continues to resonate today,” said Mike Kelly, Author, COLOR LINES: The Troubled Dreams of Racial Harmony in an American Town, which The Washington Post called “American journalism at its best.”
In this episode, troubling questions are raised on “Why do these kinds of police killings continue? What changes need to be made?” Guest interviews discuss what happened in Teaneck 30 years ago and what has not yet changed even in the present day -- from law enforcement policies to police accountability and how hiring decisions are made. What could lead to significant and long-term change with the passing of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is also discussed.
Featuring voiceover by the Emmy-winning Keith David, this limited series explores the American tragedy of race, police shootings and the search for justice. The series features firsthand accounts, insights, and perspectives from the most prominent voices in civil rights and police reform -- from U.S. Senator Cory Booker to Congresswoman Karen Bass to the Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights attorney DeWitt Lacy, activist Nupol Kiazolu and others.
In honor of the podcast episode’s discussion topic, listeners are encouraged to support The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL). Learn more at https://m4bl.org/.
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Are police operating with accountability?
02:48 The danger of reactionary policing
04:00 Joanna C Schwartz discusses police accountability
06:22 Overcoming challenges in policing with Senator Cory Booker
11:54 Peter Harvey discusses the Phillip Pannell case
14:43 Anya Bidwell explains qualified immunity
17:29 What happens when warning signs are ignored
19:08 Dan Keashen on Camden’s community policing program
22:31 The difficulties of prosecuting police with Rachel Harmon
25:41 Peter Harvey on the failings of the legal system
32:33 Rev. Al Sharpton discusses how to protect the African-American community
34:37 Senator Cory Booker explains the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
41:38 The future of police accountability with Congresswoman Karen Bass
47:17 Time for police reform
49:28 Conclusion
Visit https://www.upwardmediapartners.com/colorlinespodcastinterviewseries to learn more.

Thursday May 20, 2021
From Phillip to Floyd: The April 1990 Day that Changed Everything in Teaneck
Thursday May 20, 2021
Thursday May 20, 2021
In 1990, the town of Teaneck, New Jersey - a community renowned as a model of national unity and peace - became embroiled in a confrontation over race, dignity and fairness after a white police officer shot and killed a Black teenager.
Riots broke out. The town engaged in an examination over its racial policies, from the police department to the school system. Were the efforts of Teaneck New Jersey dating back to the 1950s to build racial harmony real? Why didn’t those efforts prevent another tragedy of police killing an African-American under questionable circumstances?
Featuring voiceover by the Emmy-winning Keith David, this podcast limited series premiere episode explores the American tragedy of race, police shootings and the search for justice. The series features firsthand accounts, insights, and perspectives from the most prominent voices in civil rights and police reform -- from U.S. Senator Cory Booker to Congresswoman Karen Bass to the Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights attorney DeWitt Lacy, and others.
In this episode, COLOR LINES author and local reporter Mike Kelly discusses his town and the day that everything changed in Teaneck.
In honor of the podcast launch, listeners of this episode are encouraged to support Color of Change. Learn more at colorofchange.org.
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction
02:26 Mike Kelly joins
05:19 Senator Cory Booker shares experience growing up in northern New Jersey
08:07 Reverend Al Sharpton’s recollections of Teaneck
10:05 A picture of Teaneck at the time
12:00 Why was Phillip Pannell shot?
15:17 Walter Fields on the community impact
20:35 Reverend Al Sharpton discusses rising tensions in Teaneck
25:47 Civil rights progress with DeWitt Lacy
30:37 Senator Cory Booker remembers the Rodney King march
32:50 Conclusion
Visit https://www.upwardmediapartners.com/colorlinespodcastinterviewseries to learn more.