This month, the Supreme Court decided Kisela v. Hughes, a case that makes it even more difficult to hold police officers accountable for unlawfully shooting the people they are supposed to serve and protect. Police officers are almost never meaningfully investigated, much less disciplined, by their fellow law enforcement agencies for shooting people. And they’re even… Read More
In a disturbing, anti-democratic combination, the federal government is simultaneously trying to bury the number of police shootings happening around the country while criminalizing opposition to this violence. How have we reached a point where the government so blatantly flouts democratic norms? The Guardian reports that the government’s “effort” to document police shootings of civilians… Read More
Our system of unequal justice was on further display last week in St. Louis, where police officer Jason Stockley was found not guilty of murdering Anthony Lamar Smith. Stockley was accused of chasing Mr. Smith for three miles, shooting him without provocation, and then planting a gun in Mr. Smith’s car. A recording device inside… Read More
City Refusal to Release Data About SWAT Team Deployments Since Closures of Mental Health Clinics Prompts Suit CHICAGO – Independent journalist Sarah Lazare and community activist Debbie Southorn sued the Chicago Police Department today demanding release of records about Chicago SWAT deployments responding to mental health crises. A copy of the suit can be found… Read More
After repeatedly tazing and beating a man who was begging for his life, Knox County cop shot him twice, committing “intentional homicide” LONDON, KY – A mother today sued in federal court Knox County, a Knox County sherriff’s deputy, and Knox County constable for allowing the deputy to repeatedly taze her unarmed, non-resisting son, beat… Read More
Unarmed Teenager Was Shot by a Madison Police Officer At a news conference this afternoon in Madison, WI, the family of Tony Robinson, Jr. and their attorneys will be discussing the $3.35 million settlement of the case, which exceeds by more than $1 million the previous record in Wisconsin for a police-officer shooting suit. Tony… Read More
One of the things the 2016 elections laid bare is that ordinary Americans are tired of the powerful protecting and enriching themselves. At the heart of the American ideal of government of the people, by the people, and for the people is that no one is above the law. The United States Supreme Court is… Read More
Just before Trump’s inauguration, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a Report summarizing its recent investigation of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), which resulted in many important findings. The Report discusses the police department’s pattern and practice of using excessive force, including rampant and unwarranted police shootings, profoundly unethical police practices, and a… Read More
Remember the bystander video, taken after Walter Scott was stopped by police for having a burnt out taillight bulb? It circulated on the news and social media, showing Mr. Scott’s feeble jog away from the police officer, and Officer Michael Slager firing eight shots at Mr. Scott’s back. At the recent criminal trial against Officer… Read More
A militarized response to a peaceful protest has no place in a civilized democracy. Such a response shows how our government systems often seek to protect the profit interests, at the expense of the marginalized. And that’s what we see as the government tries to shut down the protests at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, although this time the protesters appear to… Read More
