police brutality
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Richmond, Va., Police Chief Calls Vandalism of Memorial Statue 'Cowardly' Act
A memorial statue dedicated to fallen officers from the Richmond, Va., Police Department was vandalized Wednesday morning in an act that Police Chief Alfred Durham is slamming as “cowardly,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. The statue, which had just been moved to the city’s Byrd Park three weeks ago, was marked with red paint, a large…
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Fresno, Calif., Police Release Video of Fatal Shooting of Unarmed White Man
Fresno, Calif., Police Chief Jerry Dyer has publicly released body-camera footage taken during the fatal shooting of an unarmed white man in June, acknowledging that “some of this video will answer many of the questions out there in this community,” the Los Angeles Times reports. Dyer said during a Wednesday news conference that he decided to…
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Philando Castile Laid to Rest in Minn.
Philando Castile, a Minnesota man who was fatally shot by a St. Anthony, Minn., police officer during a traffic stop, will be laid to rest Thursday following public funeral services, KARE-TV reports. According to the news station, the procession started near J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School, where Castile was a beloved worker in the cafeteria,…
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Family of Darrius Stewart Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The family of Darrius Stewart, a black teen who was shot and killed by a Memphis, Tenn., police officer in the aftermath of a traffic stop, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, WREG reports. According to the news station, lawyers representing the family believe that a lawsuit is the only way to…
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La. ACLU Sues Baton Rouge City and Police Over Protests
The city of Baton Rouge, La., the Baton Rouge Police Department and other law-enforcement officials are facing a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and other civil rights groups, accusing authorities of violating protesters’ rights to free speech and assembly during large protests over the past week, the Times-Picayune reports. “This…
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Racism Is Not Hate
I have a cousin named Jerry*. He is 10 years older than I am. He was a virtuoso drummer who you would have been willing to swear had four arms and three feet if you had ever heard him play. He became a prodigy on the piano even though he never owned a keyboard. He…
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Can The Preachers Be Saved?
Does the world need a saved version of The Real? According to Jamal Bryant, a co-host of The Preachers, “There’s never been more of a need for a show like this.” The faith-based panel show, currently on a three-week test run in New York and Los Angeles, features “four outspoken preachers known for their unique takes on…
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White Woman Walks Around Chicago's South Side Bearing Sign: ‘Black America I'm Sorry’
One Illinois woman is capturing attention as she makes her way around the streets of Chicago’s South Side bearing a sign that reads, “Black America I’m Sorry!!!” CBS Chicago reports that Laurella Willis of Blue Island has been walking about 20 miles a day with the sign, saying that she’s sorry about “everything that’s going…
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Black Lives Matter, Explained, For People Who Still Somehow Don't Freakin Get It
What is Black Lives Matter? Black Lives Matter is a social justice and activism movement founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. It derives from the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, created in 2013 in response to George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the death of Trayvon Martin. It uses non-violent means — hashtag activism, protests, marches, die-ins, and intentional…