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U.S. Police Abuse – Askia Sabur

In September of 2010, 29-year-old Askia Sabur and his cousin were approached by Philadelphia police and asked to clear the corner where they were standing outside a restaurant. After they told officers they were waiting for food, the situation escalated. Officers forced Sabur to the ground, and one beat him repeatedly with a steel baton, leaving him with a fractured arm and head wounds that would take staples to close. Sabur was arrested on charges including aggravated assault and attempting to disarm an officer.

This video shows how bystander footage helped clear Sabur of the charges, and provides guidance on publicly sharing videos of police abuse. Learn more about the case and the videos here.

This is part of a WITNESS Media Lab project examining the impact of video in documenting police misconduct in the U.S. and its role in achieving justice and accountability.