MPT to address police reform and racial justice movement

Maryland Public Television (MPT) will present a special content block on Monday evening, May 24, built around its public affairs program Direct Connection and the documentary Say His Name: Five Days For George Floyd.

During Direct Connection’s regularly scheduled broadcast on MPT-HD at 7 p.m., host Jeff Salkin and reporter Nancy Yamada look at current efforts in Maryland to address police reform. Scheduled to appear during this segment of the program are Maryland legislator Senator Jill Carter (D), Baltimore City, and Clyde Boatwright, president and CEO at the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police.

At 7:30 p.m., MPT will air the documentary Say His Name: Five Days For George Floyd, directed by Minneapolis filmmaker Cy Dodson and produced by Lindsey Seavert in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020. The short film is an observation of the unrest in the days between the murder of Floyd and the charges filed against police officer Derek Chauvin. A preview is available for viewing at https://vimeo.com/430051780.

A special edition of Direct Connection will follow the film at 8 p.m. to explore the question: What’s next for racial justice? Jeff Salkin will be joined for the half-hour by Farajii Muhammad, host of WEAA-FM’s For the Culture with Farajii, to engage community representatives in discussions aimed at gaining insights into the evolving racial justice movement.

Providing their perspectives on the topic will be Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott; Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison; Sean Yoes, The AFRO newspaper’s Baltimore editor; Ashiah Parker, executive director of No Boundaries Coalition; Tre Murphy, director of strategy and programs at Baltimore-based Organizing Black; Raymond Winbush, research professor and director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University; community activists Kwame Rose and Erricka Bridgeford; and Abdul Salaam, a Baltimore man who won a 2016 civil suit against police in a brutality case.

Among the topics to be addressed are: What is the state of the racial justice movement in the United States? How is it evolving? Where is it headed? Who is committed to its success? What are its goals? and How does police reform fit in?

The special May 24 program lineup is part of MPT’s ongoing initiative, Standing Against Racism: Fostering Unity Through Dialogue.

About Maryland Public Television

Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.