Correction added: 2/27/08

Dr. Loretta Prater’s son was killed from police brutality on Jan. 2, 2004.

He was intoxicated.

He was also an African American.

He left the place he’d been drinking at and pulled his car off the road not far from there.

He got out of the car and took his clothes off.

The police were called and soon after, four police officers were on the scene.

Prater said the police called her son uncooperative and belligerent, which Prater said was not the case.

She said just because someone does something foolish is not a reason for punishment.

Prater’s 37-year old son, Leslie Vaughn Prater, was taken down to the ground, handcuffed behind his back and pepper sprayed.

He was then beaten and kicked.

The four officers then positioned themselves on top of Prater’s son so he could not breath.

Prater said none of the police involved admitted this but it was concluded based on the eyewitness and condition of the body.

Prater is bringing her personal experience along with an overview of literature she has read to her presentation “Guilty until Proven Innocent: Experiences of African American Males and Police Brutality.”

Her lecture takes place at 6 tonight in the Lumpkin Hall, room 2030, as part of African American Heritage Month.

“As an educator and a mother of a victim, it was my responsibility to not remain silent and talk about these matters,” Prater said.

Throughout her experience, Prater said, she has learned more than any textbook.

Prater is currently the dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Southeast Missouri State University but worked at Eastern previously for five years as chair of family and consumer science department.

“I would not wish this upon my worst enemy,” Prater said.

She said it is something “you just don’t ever get over.”

Prater’s son was in Chattanooga, Tenn. when he died, a neighborhood known for its police brutality.

For this incident, the police involved were given a week off with pay and then were let back out on the street. She said to this day – four years later – there still has been no accountability from them.

Prater said she is not condemning the police because the majority of them are doing their job.

She said it is the 15 percent that is not doing their job that are creating all the problems. She said this percentage of the officers continue to be brutal over and over again. This 15 percent is responsible for 70 percent of the actions.

She said the problem is they are not removed from their positions.

“We have to tell what’s going on because this needs to stop,” Prater said.

She said talking about police brutality is the only way it is going to stop. It will continue and get worse, if it is not addressed, Prater said.

“I call it terrorism,” Prater said. “We got people right here that’s killing our citizens.”

She said when police brutality is done one at a time it is not seen, but collectively Prater said she feels it’s an epidemic.

This is why Phi Beta Sigma is sponsoring Prater’s lecture – to make people more informed about police brutality.

“Young men, particularly young black men, need to know several things,” said Chuck Phillips, director of Human Resources and advisor for Phi Beta Sigma. “Number one how to handle themselves when it comes to dealing with law enforcement. (They) need to know the consequences for not acting accordingly.”

Some members have witnessed or experienced cases of police brutality, although they did not think of it as such at the time.

Michael Curtis, Jr., a senior management information systems major and phi beta sigma president, was driving in a predominately white neighborhood near Chicago when he was pulled over for the type of car he drives – a black Monte Carlo with tinted windows.

He said what started as a routing traffic stop escalated into a search and seizure.

Curtis and his friend were pulled out of the car and spread across the back of Curtis’ car.

He said the police searched the car but didn’t find anything.

“They took some money from me,” Curtis said. “(They) threw everything out of the car out on the street and everything.”

Curtis said this is why it is important to have Prater on campus to educate people on how to act toward police.

He said at the time he didn’t really know what to do.

“I was really trying not say to much but then didn’t want to say the wrong thing,” Curtis said.

Curtis said the lecture will help others know what should or should not be said or done to police to help de-escalate the situation.

Prater said she really wants people to come out and hear her lecture. She said it could save them or save someone’s family members.

The more information people have and the more educated people are the better off they will be, she said.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.