Activism

Ferguson, MO Continues the Trend of Police Brutality

In the wake of Eric Garner’s death at the hands of NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, as well as today’s police shooting in an Ohio Wal-mart, it seems not a day goes by without another story of tragedy at the hands of the police. As conversations build around the fact that violent and invasive police tactics seem to target men of color,  communities are banding together to protest violent displays. Today, news came out of Missouri about yet another instance of police violence. Details are still emerging, but the victim has been identified as 18-year-old Michael Brown. Brown, a 2014 high school graduate who was slated to start at Vatterott College on Monday, was allegedly shot as he walked to his grandmother’s home, unarmed. Local activists arrived to the scene to protest, while others have taken to Twitter to discuss the shooting:

https://twitter.com/sharifkadir/status/498273838132912128

State Senator Jamilah Nasheed has indicated that she will petition the Department of Justice for an investigation, and the St. Louis County NAACP released a statement:

“We are hurt to hear that yet another teenaged boy has been slaughtered by law enforcement especially in light of the recent death of Eric Garner in New York who was killed for selling cigarettes. We plan to do everything within our power to ensure that the Ferguson Police Department as well as the St. Louis County Police Department releases all details pertinent to the shooting. We strongly encourage residents to stay away from the crime scene so that no additional citizens are injured. I have spoken directly with St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, and I am confident that both he and his department will ensure that the investigation is conducted properly and that all details are kept transparent.”

Meanwhile, the yet-to-be-identified officer has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Featured Image by Elvert Barnes

Courtney Caldwell

Courtney Caldwell is an intersectional feminist. Her talents include sweary rants, and clogging your social media with pictures of her dogs (and occasionally her begrudging cat). She's also a political nerd, whose far-left tendencies are a little out of place in the deep red Texas.

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