Just Mercy in the Community

Monday October 12th, 200+ people attended “And Justice for All: A Community Panel Discussion” hosted by Middleton Public Library. The audience was made up of community members, including many staff from the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District. The discussion panel was made up of six members: Dan Mahoney (Dane County Sheriff), Dr. Ruben Anthony (Urban League of Greater Madison CEO), Josann Reynolds (Dane County Judge), Percy Brown (Director of Equity, Middleton Cross Plains Area School District), Chuck Foulke (Middleton Police Chief), and a Middleton High School Student Voice Union member.

The panel discussion began by reading the passage in Just Mercy where Stevenson talks about his unprovoked encounter with the police outside his apartment in Atlanta (pages 39-42). The panel discussed how Stevenson’s experience relates to the Middleton area and Dane County.

The discussion also focused on kids in the community and how themes in the book may effect them.  Many shared and agreed that the first step is building stronger relationships with the police, within the community, and with your neighbors.

To find out about upcoming Just Mercy discussions, visit our events page here.

Cover Photo: Middleton Public Library