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Paul beats up Rashad outside of Jerry's
Rashad bends down, a woman trips, and a bag of chips goes flying. That's all it takes for a police officer to take one look at Rashad and assume he is stealing, take him outside, and beat him up. -
Quin sees something that will not only change his life, but haunt him forever
Quin was just going to a party. On his way, he was going to stop by Jerry's corner store to grab a beer for him and his friends. Until he sees something. He sees a man who practically raised him. A man who was like his big brother. Someone who was there for him when his dad died. A police officer. Paul Galluzzo. Who was beating up a black man. He didn't know why, and he didn't know what to do. He was frozen. He ran away before anyone saw him, and went on with his life. Well, for that night. -
Rashad turns on the TV, and watches the news for the first time
For the first time since the incident, Rashad turns on the TV to watch the news. He is the only thing being talked about. There is now a video of him too. He sees what happened from a different point of view and is now having flashbacks. Friday night, all over again. He turns off the TV because he can't take it anymore. The story is looking good for him though, particularly thanks to his brother Spoony for sending in a photo of him in his JROTC uniform. Hopefully, Paul gets what he deserves. -
Galluzzo's BBQ party
The Galluzzo's are having a barbecue football party. Everyone is there including Paul, Guzzo, Jill, and Quin. Quin quietly confesses to Jill what he saw Friday Night. Now feeling guilty finding out it is Rashad. Paul and Guzzo notice Quin is "tense"- just like things between him and Guzzo. Burgers are ready and Jill is talking to her mom when Mrs. Galluzzo steps in telling her she is being disrespectful to Paul. Paul acknowledges what is going on- the news and videos going around. -
#RashadIsAbsentAgainToday
Quin comes to school Tuesday morning to see the #RashadIsAbsentAgainToday spraypainted in big letters outside the school. Everyone is taking photos, talking about it, but also taking their lunch trays out to sit by it. Except for the four other white boys on the basketball team. Guzzo waves Quin over and complains about how Springfield used to be 85% white, and now is only 37%> This annoys Quin so he decides to sit outside by the hashtag with Jill. -
Two other sides
The woman who shot the video, Claudia James, on the news. She states that there is absolutely no way Rashad could have been resisting arrest as he was not only handcuffed but being "manhandled" by Paul. Another man comes onto the TV and shares that Paul was right to do what he did. -
The Protest
In the morning Quin demands that he makes a statement about what happened the previous Friday, at first the officer said no but Quin wouldn't take no for an answer. Rashad and his father are both nervous about the protest. Everyone is. Quin and Rashad lock eyes during the die-in. Quin is happy to see Rashad. Rashad is proud as a black man, and as his name is being read aloud he says "Rashad Butler, Present."