Ferguson Is Swearing In Its First Black Police Chief
Ferguson, Missouri has appointed its first black police chief, and one of his first orders of business is diversifying the city’s predominantly white department staff.
Did Gentrification Kill Alex Nieto?
In 2014, in San Francisco, Alex Nieto, carrying a Taser for his shift as a bouncer, was shot repeatedly by four police officers, and died. None of the officers were indicted criminal charges stemming from his death; this month they were cleared in a civil case. But the broader consequences of their actions remain.
The Department of Justice Is Suing the City of Ferguson
The Department of Justice is suing the city of Ferguson, Missouri. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the lawsuit this afternoon following the Ferguson City Council’s decision to amend parts of their agreement with the DOJ for police and municipal court reform.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Echoes Black Lives Matter Ethos, Makes Us Wish She Was Running
On Sunday, Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered a speech extolling the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement like none of the actual presidential candidates have. Though she’s said she’s not running, deliveries like these are why some Warren supporters are still hopeful.
Trayvon Martin's Mom: The Government Doesn't Care Much for Black People
Sybrina Fulton, mother of the late Trayvon Martin, spoke to New York magazine about her son’s legacy as the spark that catalyzed the Black Lives Matter movement and America’s closer inspection of police and citizen violence—and how, for women like her, the grief of losing her child is never-ending.
Officer Darren Wilson Still Can't See How He Could Possibly Be Racist
The New Yorker profiled former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for its August 10 issue, the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death at the hands of Wilson. The biggest takeaway from the piece seems to be that Wilson had the opportunity to be a dumb kid but didn’t give others like Brown the same chance. And…
Activist Johnetta Elzie Talks Ferguson & Black Lives Matter
During the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the murder of Michael Brown by Police Officer Darren Wilson, a few activists rose from the fray. Johnetta Elzie, 25, was one of those people along with her partner DeRay Mckesson, and as a St. Louis local, she was on the scene shortly after Brown was killed and…
Pharrell Performs 'Happy' With a 'Black Lives Matter' Nod
On Sunday's 57th Annual Grammy Awards, Pharrell Williams won a number of honors, made an awkward speech, and performed "Happy" as we've never seen it: with every performance concept known to man. But all was forgiven when he included a "Black Lives Matter" nod.
Can Cops Beat Their 2014 Low Points 9 Days into 2015? They're Trying!
In America, the winter of our discontent—with the police—continues. As New York cops channel their best Carrie Mathison and Cleveland cops battle Ferguson cops to see who can fell more unarmed bodies, Los Angeles cops are doing… something good. And when LA authorities—famous for actions like beating a homeless…
Ferguson Protesters Pepper-Sprayed After Storming St. Louis Police HQ
A group of 75 protestors occupied the St. Louis Police police department headquarters earlier this evening. The protesters marched through the city and then congregated in front of the headquarters where they demanded that all those "occupying the department" be removed.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Revises Position on Members Protesting in Letters
After advising members not to wear their Greek letters while protesting police brutality on Saturday, the first black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha has changed their position—twice.
First Black Sororities Tell Members Not to Wear Logos While Protesting
Amid nationwide protests against police brutality and the failed indictments of Officers Darren Wilson and Daniel Pantaleo, the oldest black sororities Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta are instructing their members not to wear their Greek letters while marching. The directive is pissing off some members and…
Denver Students Stage Walkouts in Protest of Garner, Brown Decisions
Students at Denver's South High School staged a walkout in solidarity with protesters across the country on Monday.
Cut SNL Sketch Imagines Morning Show Bummed Out By Ferguson News
Delivering perky, upbeat news on a local morning show is tough—honestly, who's really that happy at 5 a.m.?—but you know what's really hard? Being perky and upbeat while your city is burning and army tanks are rolling down residential streets as your viewers are bombed with tear gas. SNL spoofed that very moment in a…
Fox Host Thinks Minorities Should Be More Sensitive Toward Cops
Fox News is at it again as Justice with Judge Jeanine host Jeanine Pirro says the American public needs to learn how to better deal with police, instead of the other way around. Because between Mike Brown, Eric Garner and Akai Gurley, it's wild how many civilians are fatally shooting cops these days.
St. Louis PD Posts Tips to Keep Your Kids From Getting Themselves Shot
In the aftermath of the prominent non-indictments of two white police officers who indisputably killed unarmed black men (and the murder of a 12-year-old boy by a cop who didn't even try to perform first aid after shooting him), you might think that police departments would have the good sense not to pop off on social…
Jury Doesn't Indict Cop Videotaped Choking Eric Garner to Death
On Wednesday, a Staten Island grand jury decided against indicting the Officer Daniel Pantaleo who choked Eric Garner to death on July 17 in an incident that was caught, in its entirety, on film. Suddenly, New York City isn't so far removed from Ferguson or Cleveland or any other place where black people are killed…
Darren Wilson Is Going to Be Some Unlucky Kid's Father
Because the holiday season wasn't already horrible enough, Officer Darren Wilson has announced that he and his wife are expecting a child. The only way this nightmare week can be saved now is if Wilson is spirited into a federal jail thanks to a Thanksgiving miracle for the ages.
Black Lives Matter
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 25: 4 year old Marley Hendrix Totten joins a group of protesters as they gather outside the headquarters of the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department as part of a planned '28 Hours for Mike Brown' protest. (Image by Win McNamee/Getty)
Ferguson: Injustice Still Hurts When You See It Coming
We knew this would happen. We hoped that things would be different, but we knew.
