Skip to main content

Police Violence

Tracking updates on, reactions to, and racial dynamics of the disproportionate amount of police violence in America.

Police Violence
Jon Stewart imagines Fox News of the 1960s: “Relax: Selma isn’t slavery!”Jon Stewart imagines Fox News of the 1960s: “Relax: Selma isn’t slavery!”
Police Violence

Watch the Daily Show host mock people who say Ferguson has nothing to do with race or civil rights.

By Jenée Desmond-Harris
Police Violence
The massive racial divide on the Ferguson grand jury decision, in one chartThe massive racial divide on the Ferguson grand jury decision, in one chart
Police Violence

Most white Americans support the grand jury decision in Ferguson.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Police wanted St. Louis Rams players punished for Ferguson protest. The NFL declined.Police wanted St. Louis Rams players punished for Ferguson protest. The NFL declined.
Police Violence

Five players went out to the field with their hands up.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Obama wants to put body cameras on 50,000 more copsObama wants to put body cameras on 50,000 more cops
Police Violence

Asking Congress to fund cop cams is part of a broader strategy to fix police-community relations — but not a cure-all

By Dara Lind
Police Violence
What you need to know about the latest protests in FergusonWhat you need to know about the latest protests in Ferguson
Police Violence

Protestors demonstrated at local Target and Walmart stores, and St. Louis Rams players showed their solidarity.

By Jenée Desmond-Harris
Culture
This powerful book will help you understand the Ferguson protestsThis powerful book will help you understand the Ferguson protests
Culture

Jesmyn Ward’s Men We Reaped is a story about both life and death

By Kelsey McKinney
Police Violence
Darren Wilson, officer who shot Michael Brown, resigns from Ferguson Police DepartmentDarren Wilson, officer who shot Michael Brown, resigns from Ferguson Police Department
Police Violence

A grand jury decided not to press criminal charges against Darren Wilson in the previous week.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Ferguson protests shut down multiple malls on Black FridayFerguson protests shut down multiple malls on Black Friday
Police Violence

Demonstrators called for justice for Michael Brown.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Report: Prosecutors may have misled the Ferguson grand jury about the law for two monthsReport: Prosecutors may have misled the Ferguson grand jury about the law for two months
Police Violence

The mistake could have impacted the grand jury’s decision.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Police thought 12-year-old Tamir Rice was 20 when they shot him. This isn’t uncommon.Police thought 12-year-old Tamir Rice was 20 when they shot him. This isn’t uncommon.
Police Violence

Another way police misperceive black men and boys.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
A one-chart summary of every Ferguson eyewitness’s grand jury testimonyA one-chart summary of every Ferguson eyewitness’s grand jury testimony
Police Violence

An easy way to analyze hundreds of pages of testimony.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Prosecutors grossly mishandled the Darren Wilson investigationProsecutors grossly mishandled the Darren Wilson investigation
Play
Police Violence

Indicting Wilson for killing Michael Brown was unlikely from the start, but St. Louis County didn’t even try — and that’s a problem

By Dara Lind
Police Violence
Darrien Hunt, killed by Utah police while cosplaying, appeared to flee during encounterDarrien Hunt, killed by Utah police while cosplaying, appeared to flee during encounter
Police Violence

New video footage shows the 22-year-old running as two police officers chase after him with their guns drawn.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
We shouldn’t talk about Ferguson without talking about gunsWe shouldn’t talk about Ferguson without talking about guns
Police Violence

British cops don’t shoot civilians because British cops don’t carry guns.

By Matthew Yglesias
Police Violence
Ferguson, explained in 7 sentencesFerguson, explained in 7 sentences
Police Violence

Catch up on the latest events in one minute.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Grand jury testimony suggested marijuana made Michael Brown violent. That’s unlikely.Grand jury testimony suggested marijuana made Michael Brown violent. That’s unlikely.
Police Violence

Even if Brown had the drug in his system, that doesn’t suggest anything.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Michael Brown spent his last day with his friend Dorian Johnson. Here’s what Johnson saw.Michael Brown spent his last day with his friend Dorian Johnson. Here’s what Johnson saw.
Police Violence

It’s worth comparing Johnson’s testimony to officer Darren Wilson’s.

By Ezra Klein
Police Violence
A prominent legal expert eviscerates the Darren Wilson prosecution, in 8 tweetsA prominent legal expert eviscerates the Darren Wilson prosecution, in 8 tweets
Police Violence

Lisa Bloom said the prosecution’s questioning amounted to a tea party.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Report: Darren Wilson has a clean conscience about Michael Brown shootingReport: Darren Wilson has a clean conscience about Michael Brown shooting
Police Violence

The officer reportedly said he wouldn’t do anything differently.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Why Darren Wilson was never going to go to prison, in one chartWhy Darren Wilson was never going to go to prison, in one chart
Police Violence

When police officers get prosecuted, convictions are rare — and jail time is even rarer.

By Amanda Taub
Police Violence
The terrifying racial stereotypes laced through Darren Wilson’s testimonyThe terrifying racial stereotypes laced through Darren Wilson’s testimony
Police Violence

The myth of the magical “giant negro,” explained.

By Lauren Williams
Culture
Actually, Robert McCulloch, social media is doing a better job than you areActually, Robert McCulloch, social media is doing a better job than you are
Culture

By pushing back against official narratives, social media turns stories like Ferguson into major news.

By Emily St. James
Police Violence
Darren Wilson’s grand jury: too much evidence, too little supervisionDarren Wilson’s grand jury: too much evidence, too little supervision
Police Violence

Prosecutors in Ferguson encouraged grand jurors to do outside research — among other questionable moves

By Dara Lind
Police Violence
One thing the prosecutor in Ferguson is right about: Eyewitness testimony can’t be trustedOne thing the prosecutor in Ferguson is right about: Eyewitness testimony can’t be trusted
Police Violence

40 years of research tells us that eyewitness testimony is fundamentally flawed.

By Joseph Stromberg
Police Violence
Officer Darren Wilson’s story is unbelievable. Literally.Officer Darren Wilson’s story is unbelievable. Literally.
Police Violence

We’ve finally heard Officer Darren Wilson’s side of the story — and it’s hard to believe.

By Ezra Klein
Police Violence
11 things we learned from Darren Wilson’s account in the Ferguson grand jury evidence11 things we learned from Darren Wilson’s account in the Ferguson grand jury evidence
Police Violence

The grand jury evidence provides the best account yet of the Ferguson Police officer’s side of the story.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
How we’d cover Ferguson if it happened abroadHow we’d cover Ferguson if it happened abroad
Police Violence

“China said it would arm moderate American rebels to stem the rise of Missouri extremist groups.”

By Max Fisher
Police Violence
Why did the Ferguson prosecutor go out of his way to attack witness credibility?Why did the Ferguson prosecutor go out of his way to attack witness credibility?
Police Violence

Watch St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch’s bizarre attack on witness credibility.

By Amanda Taub
Video
Why it’s so rare for police to be prosecuted for killing civilians, explained in 2 minutesWhy it’s so rare for police to be prosecuted for killing civilians, explained in 2 minutes
Play
Video

It’s very difficult to disprove fear.

By Joe Posner, Amanda Taub and 1 more
Police Violence
Here’s the evidence the grand jury saw before deciding not to indict Darren WilsonHere’s the evidence the grand jury saw before deciding not to indict Darren Wilson
Police Violence

Documents and testimony about the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO.

By Dara Lind
Police Violence
People are protesting the Ferguson grand jury decision from coast to coastPeople are protesting the Ferguson grand jury decision from coast to coast
Police Violence

Thousands of protesters took to the street around the country.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Why Obama won’t give the Ferguson speech his supporters wantWhy Obama won’t give the Ferguson speech his supporters want
Police Violence

The White House no longer believes Obama can bridge divides. They believe — with good reason — that he widens them.

By Ezra Klein
Police Violence
Photos: Darren Wilson’s injuries following the Michael Brown shootingPhotos: Darren Wilson’s injuries following the Michael Brown shooting
Police Violence

The photos clarify previously conflicting reports.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Michael Brown’s family said police should adopt body cameras. They’re right.Michael Brown’s family said police should adopt body cameras. They’re right.
Play
Police Violence

How a new technology could have prevented a lot of confusion in Ferguson.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
40 Twitter accounts to follow on the ground in Ferguson40 Twitter accounts to follow on the ground in Ferguson
Police Violence

A list of mostly reporters providing live updates from Ferguson, Mo.

By Sarah Kliff
Police Violence
Darren Wilson’s attorneys release statement thanking “those who have stood by his side”Darren Wilson’s attorneys release statement thanking “those who have stood by his side”
Police Violence

The statement claims that Wilson “followed his training and followed the law.”

By Amanda Taub
Police Violence
Michael Brown’s family reacts to grand jury’s decision to not indict Darren WilsonMichael Brown’s family reacts to grand jury’s decision to not indict Darren Wilson
Police Violence

The family asks for peace.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson faces no criminal charges for killing Michael BrownFerguson police officer Darren Wilson faces no criminal charges for killing Michael Brown
Police Violence

What it means, and what happens next.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Fox News discussed race in America with a panel of 5 white peopleFox News discussed race in America with a panel of 5 white people
Police Violence

The panel lacked diversity.

By German Lopez
Police Violence
Asking Ferguson protesters to emulate MLK is asking them to ignore historyAsking Ferguson protesters to emulate MLK is asking them to ignore history
Police Violence

Ta-Nehisi Coates tells it like it is.

By Dara Lind