This powerful filming, produced by Detroit is Different under the direction of Baraka Elmadari, with photography and camera work by D’Mareae Miller, captures a pivotal public hearing organized by the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) – Michigan Chapter. The hearing, held at the Detroit People’s Food Co-op on October 24, 2024, examined the controversial removal of student protest encampments at multiple Michigan universities.
The film is structured chronologically through personal testimonies and expert analysis, beginning with a comprehensive introduction to the NCBL and the historical context of police brutality in protest responses. Through careful editing by Baraka Elmadari and Khary Frazier, the filming weaves together multiple narratives across Michigan’s major universities: the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Michigan State University. A central figure in the public hearing is Salma Hammami, whose testimony provides firsthand accounts of the student-led encampments demanding divestment from Israel and solidarity with Gaza.
The film details how peaceful protests were met with escalating responses, including tear gas deployment and arrests, particularly highlighting the disparate treatment between Palestinian advocacy groups and pro-Israel demonstrations on campus.
The documentary dedicates significant time to examining specific incidents: The police raid on the University of Michigan encampment The establishment and eventual dismantling of protest camps The increasing surveillance and harassment faced by student activists The unique context of Michigan State University’s response, influenced by its history with the Larry Nassar scandal The Wayne State University protests and the heightened police presence that followed Attorney Jeff Edison, who receives special acknowledgment in the credits, appears to have provided crucial legal context throughout the filming, particularly in the segment addressing legal observations and law enforcement disparities.
The film is particularly effective in its exploration of intersectionality, dedicating a substantial portion to examining the solidarity between Black and Palestinian movements. This segment helps contextualize the NCBL’s involvement in these protests and the broader civil rights implications. The public hearing concludes with a powerful examination of the historical context and ongoing struggle for civil rights and academic freedom on university campuses, suggesting that these events are part of a larger, continuing pattern of civil rights challenges in academic institutions.
Through intimate personal accounts, expert legal analysis, and careful documentation of events, this film serves as both a historical record and a call to action regarding civil rights and academic freedom in contemporary America.
The technical challenges faced during filming are incorporated into the narrative, adding to the documentary’s authentic portrayal of events as they unfolded.
00:00:00 Introduction to the National Conference of Black Lawyers 00:01:16 Historical Context of Police Brutality
00:03:24 University Protests and Police Response
00:05:40 Solidarity Between Black and Palestinian Movements
00:10:04 Personal Stories of Activism
00:13:12 Student Activism at the University of Michigan
00:17:21 Police Raid on the Encampment
00:29:06 Wayne State University Protests
00:42:02 Michigan State University Protests
00:45:55 Setting Up the Encampment
00:46:18 First Encounters with Police
00:47:35 Interactions with University Officials
00:48:40 Community Support and Programming
00:51:27 Deciding to Shut Down the Camp
00:53:51 Ongoing Activism and University Response
00:57:41 Surveillance and Harassment
01:04:03 Legal and Community Support
01:09:02 Testimonies of Student Activists
01:29:09 MSU’s Unique Approach to Student Protests
01:34:08 MSU’s Surveillance and Security Measures
01:37:20 Personal Accounts of Student Protests
01:38:33 Palestinian Perspective on U.S. Political System
01:43:28 Wayne State University Encampment Experience
01:49:39 Increased Police Presence and Surveillance
02:02:24 Historical Context and Continued Struggle
Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 