Photo Courtesy of The Coalition to End Sheriff’s Violence’s Facebook Page

Intersection’s Nonprofit Spotlight series profiles South L.A. organizations that are propelling positive change in South L.A.

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Dignity and Power Now/The Coalition to End Sheriff’s Violence in L.A Jails grew out of a performance art project created by the organization’s founder, Patrisse Marie Cullors. She drew inspiration from the 2012 American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit that accused the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department of using excessive force in its jails. For the performance, titled “Stained: An Intimate Portrayal of State Violence,” Cullors enlarged sheets of the nearly 85 page civil rights complaint, and pasted them in a gallery along with bright yellow caution tape. Cullors talked with Intersections about her budding organization, its triumphs and struggles, and its promising next steps. [Read more…]