Current Issue :: June 13, 2008 :: Act Now
Help document the life and death of James Chasse
In September 2006, James Chasse was tackled by three law officers
on a downtown street corner before a dozen eyewitnesses. James
was not suspected of a crime, and he had not committed a crime.
The officers beat him, kicked him, and broke 16 ribs and his shoulder. They used a Taser on him repeatedly. He screamed for mercy. The officers thought James was a drug dealer, a homeless person. He wasn’t that at all. James was a poet, a musician, he had a family that loved him, friends, neighbors, dreams and hopes. He was an artist; a small, shy, gentle person. And he was a person with schizophrenia.
James was taken to the jail and placed in a holding cell. Less than half an hour later, the jail nurse determined he needed medical care. He died en route to a hospital in a police car driven by the same officers who had earlier beaten him. A grand jury refused to indict those officers and they were not disciplined by the city or county.
“Alien Boy” is a feature-length documentary film about the life and death of James Chasse. It is an opportunity for Portland to shine a stark light on its treatment of people who live with mental illness. It is a labor of love from people who knew James in his lifetime and who were moved by his story as an underground cultural icon and tragic victim of violence.
What you can do
Host a fundraising event for “Alien Boy” at your home or office. Your event will include a screening of parts of “Alien Boy” and director Brian Lindstrom's film “Finding Normal.” Also, Brian will give a talk about the progress of the documentary.
Your donation, either individually or through hosting an event, is always welcome. “Alien Boy” is sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Portland, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible. Send your contribution to:
Mental Health Association of Portland
PO Box 3641
Portland, Oregon 97208
For more information about hosting a fundraising event, e-mail Jason or call him at 503-367-6128. To learn more about the project, visit alienboy.org.
