Organization highlights survivor’s stories, demands end to police brutality

The Indianapolis Liberation Center (ILC) held a press conference on Dec. 21 where a Black man and veteran, for the first time, publicly told the story of the brutality he says he faced at the hands of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.Jerome Taylor (aka “Taylor Bey”) spoke about his experience four years ago. He says he was eating dinner at a hospital when he was falsely accused of trespassing. Taylor recalls being arrested with so much force that he was left with “permanent nerve damage,” which still affects his everyday life.Dr. Derek Ford of DePauw University, one of Taylor’s representatives, shared more details of the night Taylor was arrested in 2019. Taylor ended his shift as a gardener and went to eat a meal at Eskenazi Hospital. Shortly after, two officers approached him, asked if he was on the trespassing list and asked if Taylor was okay. Taylor let the officers know he was not on the trespassing list and was okay.Shortly after, he was approached by another officer who asked for his ID.“For Black and other oppressed people, this is an impossible request to fulfill as it serves as an excuse to claim fear for safety,” Ford explained. “But...