Project Features Internationally Recognized Attorney and Veteran Activist, Gerald A. Griggs
Atlanta, GA — After the premiere of the highly anticipated docuseries Copwatch America aired on BET, the City of Atlanta presented Atlanta Police Officer Sung Kim with two alternatives: resign or be terminated. The former APD officer shot and killed unarmed 21-year old Jimmy Atchison in January 2019.
Attorney Gerald Griggs teamed up with BET to produce the docuseries providing unlimited, never before seen evidence to the network. This is the first time in the history of television that a major network was granted exclusive access to an attorney’s investigation.
“It’s going to be raw and uncut, but we are going to elevate the voices of these families. I wanted to show people the problem and then the solution because there is a solution, and that’s the Obama 21st century policing initiative,” said Attorney Griggs.
Former President Barack Obama convened a task force consisting of 150 participates—including representatives from law enforcement, elected officials, and community partners from 40 cities to identify the best practices to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the community. Mr. Obama released their recommendations to the public and their municipalities in 2015. To date, no law enforcement department has implemented all the recommendations, one of the reasons BET decided to begin filming this project earlier this year.
“Far too often, contact between law enforcement and black civilians ends in violence against innocent members of our community. It is our hope that this first-of-its-kind-exposé sheds light on the issue, provides solutions, and fosters a demand for accountability and justice,” said BET Networks president Scott Mills.
The docuseries will also include the cases of Veltavious Griggs, Oscar Caine, Eric Garner, Jamarion Robinson, and Nicholas Bolton. Griggs works alongside Chris “City” Mungin, Yonasda Lonewolf, Shar Bates, and Patrick Newbill.
Attorney Griggs has worked as an activist for over 20 years. His work with Jaheem Herrera’s case launched the National Anti-Bullying Movement and strengthened Georgia’s Anti-Bullying Law. Griggs’ intense investigation into the alleged crimes of R&B Singer Robert Sylvester Kelly led to felony indictments in several states, and Griggs pursuit of justice into the brutal beating of Maggie Thomas in front of her four-year-old daughter ended with Atlanta Police Officer James Hines fired in seven days.
Click on the link below to watch and share a first look clip of “COPWATCH AMERICA”:
https://www.bet.com/video/copwatch/season-1/exclusives/a-mother-joins-the-movement-on-copwatch-america.html.
For more information on Copwatch America go to www.bet.com/copwatch and join the conversation across BET social platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) by using the hashtag #COPWATCHAMERICA.
PRESS CONTACT:
Dontaye Carter
Dontaye@CarterMedia.net
(678) 551-1864