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Tony McDade Was an ‘Imperfect’ Victim of Police Brutality. It’s Exactly Why He Matters
In the week that has passed since Tony McDade’s killing at the hands of a Tallahassee police officer, everything and nothing has changed. A militarized police force has met waves of protest with unfathomable violence. Curfews have cropped up in many cities, including Atlanta, Minneapolis, New York City, Louisville, Oakland and Miami. At the mercy…
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'Your Lives Matter': Barack Obama Strikes Optimistic Tone With Young Black Activists, Urges Political Engagement
On Wednesday evening, Barack Obama sought to give the sort of public address that Donald Trump has thus far failed to give: validating the concerns of protesters and offering them encouragement—while offering, controversially, an olive branch to law enforcement. The remarks were part of the My Brother’s Keeper Virtual Town Hall titled “Reimagining Policing in…
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Two Funds Named for Nina Pop and Tony McDade Will Provide Free Therapy Sessions for Black Transgender Folks
Black trans people have long stood at the intersection of racist violence and gender violence. In the last month, Nina Pop, a black trans woman killed in early May, and Tony McDade, a black trans man fatally shot by Tallahassee police last week, have become names to rally around, symbolizing the need for specific protections…
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What You Need to Know About David McAtee, the Louisville Restaurant Owner Killed After Sunday's Protests
There are a lot of stories circulating about David McAtee, the 53-year-old black man shot and killed while Louisville Metro Police and the National Guard attempted to “disperse” a crowd who had gathered outside a Dino’s Food Mart in the early hours of Monday morning. The details are hazy by circumstance (information coming out in…
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Independent Autopsy Rules George Floyd’s Death a Homicide
An independent autopsy ordered by the family of George Floyd finds the 46-year-old man was killed by “homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain.” The early findings from the exam were released Monday afternoon by Floyd family attorney Ben Crump. Dr.…
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As Officials Warn of Second Coronavirus Wave Due to Mass Protests, Demonstrators Weigh the Risks
The U.S. is world-renowned for its short memory—whether it’s our fraught history of uprisings, fighting pandemics, or racist presidents. But if there is one development in 2020 that is truly unique, it’s that this country has never experienced a massive racial uprising on this scale as we’re simultaneously fighting a pandemic. Over the weekend, tens…
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Man Dies After Being Shot at by Louisville Police and National Guard Following 4th Night of Protests [Updated]
A man was killed after being shot at by Louisville Metro Police and the National Guard on Monday morning, capping off a violent weekend in which police across the country escalated demonstrations protesting police brutality by employing aggressive tactics against protesters. On Monday afternoon, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer identified the man who died as David…
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Killing of Trans Black Man Tony McDade Marks 3rd Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting in Tallahassee in Less Than 2 Months
As protests erupted around the country Thursday night in response to multiple, widespread, and longstanding allegations of police brutality, community activists in Tallahassee, Fla., have tried to press for more accountability from police officers after three officer-involved killings in just over two months. On Wednesday night, community activists protested the recent killings, demanding more transparency…
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How 'Spoon Theory' Can Help You Monitor and Manage Your Mental Wellbeing During Turbulent Times
The news about the state of the nation’s mental health was alarming even before the traumatic events of this past week—when news cycles and social media timelines were flooded with news about racists, deadly, and un-redressed assaults on black people. On Tuesday (which, somehow, wasn’t three years ago) a Census Bureau report showed a third…
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In a Divided Nation, a Call to Finally Protect Black Lives Reaches a Fever Pitch
Across America on Thursday night, thousands of people marched to their state capitols, their public squares, their police precincts. Across America, they shouted “I can’t breathe”—a dying plea turned rallying cry. Police took arms against demonstrators—dressing in riot gear, shooting at the citizens who employ them with rubber bullets, or spraying tear gas to “disperse”…