Why Are You Dressed Like Darth Vader? Why Are You Dressed Like Darth Vader?
Officer Friendly, is it Halloween already?
Aug 19, 2014 / Blog / Tom Tomorrow
Demand That Cops Stop Acting Like Soldiers. Plus: How to Help in Ferguson Demand That Cops Stop Acting Like Soldiers. Plus: How to Help in Ferguson
The events in Ferguson, Missouri, shed light on the increasing militarization of the police in the United States.
Aug 19, 2014 / Take Action / NationAction
St. Louis Police Arrest Nine Protesters Demanding Justice for Michael Brown St. Louis Police Arrest Nine Protesters Demanding Justice for Michael Brown
Protesters marched to Governor Jay Nixon’s downtown office building, demanding that he withdraw National Guard troops from Ferguson.
Aug 19, 2014 / Blog / Steven Hsieh
How to End Militarized Policing How to End Militarized Policing
We can undo the policies facilitating police violence in Ferguson.
Aug 18, 2014 / Alex S. Vitale
What Matters in Ferguson What Matters in Ferguson
Michael Brown was shot and killed by an officer of the Ferguson, Missouri, police department. Everything else is irrelevant.
Aug 15, 2014 / Blog / Mychal Denzel Smith
After Ferguson, Will the DOJ Curtail Militarized Policing Across the Country? After Ferguson, Will the DOJ Curtail Militarized Policing Across the Country?
Can the situation in Ferguson prompt accountability and oversight of law enforcement?
Aug 15, 2014 / Blog / Zoë Carpenter
A Plea for Humanity at Rikers A Plea for Humanity at Rikers
Inmates and activists unite to stop prisoner abuse at Rikers Island Prison.
Aug 14, 2014 / Blog / Sarah Leonard
Reporter Arrested in Ferguson Rips Joe Scarborough for ‘Running His Mouth’ Reporter Arrested in Ferguson Rips Joe Scarborough for ‘Running His Mouth’
Famous TV host says reporters who don’t obey cops fast enough just want TV fame.
Aug 14, 2014 / Blog / Leslie Savan
Why Do These Cops Look Like Navy Seals? Why Do These Cops Look Like Navy Seals?
How the excessive militarization of the police has turned cops into counterinsurgents.
Aug 14, 2014 / Matthew Harwood
Authority to Kill a Minority Authority to Kill a Minority
On Saturday, August 9, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, by a local police officer whose identity has not been released. Brown was walking with a friend, 22-year-old Dorian Johnson, on his way to his grandmother’s residence. Johnson says the two were walking in the street when a police car approached and the officer instructed them to “get the fuck onto the sidewalk.” They told the officer they were almost at their destination. Johnson says at that point, the officer slammed his brake, backed up and asked, “What’d you say?”, while opening his car door and attempting to get out. The door hit Brown and then closed. Johnson says the officer then grabbed Brown by the neck. “They’re not wrestling so much as [the policeman’s] arm went from [Brown’s] throat to now clenched on his shirt,” Johnson continues. “It’s like tug of war. [The cop’s] trying to pull him in. [Brown’s] pulling away. That’s when I heard, ‘I’m gonna shoot you.’” According to Johnson, the first shot followed not long after. He and Brown both started running. The officer fired a second shot, this one hitting Brown in the back. Johnson says Brown then turned around with his hands in the air and said, “I don’t have a gun, stop shooting!” The officer ignored Brown’s words and fired several more shots. Parts of Johnson’s story are backed up by another eyewitness, Piaget Crenshaw, who said: “They shot him, and he fell. He put his arms up to let them know he was compliant, and that he was unarmed. And they shot him twice more, and he fell to the ground and died.” Please support our journalism. Get a digital subscription for just $9.50! The St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board wrote, “Michael Brown didn’t get due process.” It’s worse than that. Michael Brown was robbed of his humanity. His future was stolen. His parents’ pride was crushed. His nation’s contempt for black youth has been exposed. A whole generation of young black people are once again confronted with the reality that they are not safe. Black America is left searching for justice. Michael Brown’s shooting is the latest link in a long chain of injustice. Justice for Renisha McBride, the 19-year-old black woman shot in 2013 while seeking help after a car accident, would have looked like Michael being alive to attend college in two days. Justice for Trayvon Martin would have looked like Renisha getting the help she needed. Justice for Oscar Grant would have looked like Trayvon making it home to finish watching the NBA All-Star game, Skittles and iced tea in hand. Justice should be the affirmation of our existence. Read Next: Dani McClain on the murder of black youth
Aug 13, 2014 / Editorial / Mychal Denzel Smith