Police Brutality
Police Fatally Shot A Man Who Was Handcuffed Inside A Cop Car
Two witnesses saw or heard "a struggle of some sort" inside the car and "heard loud bangs," a police spokesperson said.
Watching My Cousin’s Death Go Viral
My cousin Salahuddin was a victim of unforgivable police brutality. But before that, he was a young man let down by a society that still treats mental illness as a kind of crime in itself.
A Video Of A Chicago Cop Body-Slamming A Man On The Street Has Sparked An Investigation
The man was slammed to the ground after allegedly spitting on the cop during an arrest, police said.
The Florida Deputies Who Slammed A Black Teen's Head Into The Ground In A Viral Video Have Been Charged
The 15-year-old boy was bending down to pick up a cell phone during an incident at a McDonald's when the officers pepper sprayed him and threw him to the ground.
Tiffany Cabán Says Criminal Justice Reform Could Improve Public Safety
Cabán, a candidate for district attorney in Queens, told BuzzFeed News’ AM to DM that there are “so many better ways to have better public safety outcomes rather than continuing to criminalize poverty.”
Violent Protests Broke Out After US Marshals Fatally Shot A Young Black Man
“What do people do with their pain and trauma when it gets to be too much, when a city has ignored them, when their loss is too great and they can no longer yell at the sky?” a city official asked.
Video Shows Chicago Police Officers Punching And Dragging A 16-Year-Old Student Down Stairs
The video appears to contradict the officers statements that the student initiated the violent encounter.
Protesters Are Losing Eyes And Hands To Police Brutality In France
“When you lift the curtain, what happens in France is exactly what you see in America…It’s the same violence. We’re also dying.”
This Law Helps Police Get Away With Murder. Let's End It.
California is a progressive stronghold. It’s also home to some of the most unjust laws in the nation.
Florida Police Officers Who Pinned Down A 14-Year-Old Black Girl And Punched Her Say She Was Acting "Aggressive"
The girl's mother said she is "heartbroken" and "can't trust" the police anymore.
"The Hate U Give" And The Limits Of Depicting Police Brutality
The Hate U Give, Monsters and Men, and Blindspotting don't have anything to say beyond police brutality is bad. (Warning: spoilers.)
A California Deputy Said A Drunk Man Attacked Him. But Dashcam Video Appears To Show Otherwise.
“That’s an unimaginable response,” the man's attorney said. “You don't treat people like that in any situation.”
Four Years Ago The NYPD Killed My Son. I’m Still Waiting For Justice.
At any point, Mayor Bill de Blasio could have held the police accountable for my son’s death. He’s chosen not to.
Lawyers For The Officer Who Shot Laquan McDonald 16 Times Said The Teen Was Responsible For His Own Death
“Laquan was the author, choreographer of this story. Jason Van Dyke had to be brought into it.”
The Officer Who Fatally Shot Laquan McDonald 16 Times Said The Teen's Eyes "Were Bugging Out Of His Head"
Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke also testified that he was shooting at the knife as Laquan McDonald was on the ground.
The Media Can't Justify Botham Jean's Killing. But They're Trying.
The fact remains that Amber Guyger entered an apartment that wasn't her own and shot her neighbor, who was neither armed nor a direct threat to her.
Attorneys Argued Over Which Bullets Mattered In The Police Shooting Death Of Laquan McDonald
At one point, the prosecutor asked a pathologist for the defense team, "Are we back to ‘None of the wounds matter’?”
The NYPD Officer Who Shot A Man In The Face Has Been Fired
Sgt. Ritchard Blake has been fired from the NYPD and is under investigation for possible criminal charges over the shooting.
A Baltimore Police Officer Has Been Indicted On Assault Charges After A Video Of Him Punching A Man Went Viral
Arthur Williams, who resigned from the department Sunday, faces charges of misconduct in office and assault.
A Baltimore Police Officer Has Resigned After A Video Showing Him Punching A Man Went Viral
The interim police commissioner accepted the officer's resignation Sunday evening, calling the actions "disturbing."
A Police Officer Has Been Suspended After A Viral Video Showed Him Punching And Tackling A Man
The interim police commissioner said he’s “deeply disturbed by the video” and will be investigating the incident.
Video Shows A Nashville Police Officer Fatally Shooting A Man Who Was Running Away From Him
Police said that the 25-year-old victim, Daniel Hambrick, was carrying a gun when the officer shot him several times.
Black Democrats Grapple With Confrontations Between Police And People Of Color
Amid stories of police violence and individuals calling the cops on people of color living their lives, the Congressional Black Caucus has formed a task force to figure out how to help.
"Queen Sugar" Is Taking On National Anthem Protests
The Ava DuVernay series takes a stand on kneeling in the Season 3 premiere.
Two Black Men Were Arrested In Starbucks. Witnesses Say They "Didn't Do Anything."
The men had simply been waiting for another person to arrive before they ordered, their lawyer said. A Starbucks manager phoned the police.
This Video Shows An Asheville Police Officer Beating A Black Man For Jaywalking
Officer Christopher Hickman has been charged with two counts of assault and communicating threats.
"Three Billboards" Is An Unfortunate Metaphor For Our Complicated Cultural Moment
What happens when your resonant dark comedy about female anger is also a lousy one about racism?
Meet The People Who've Made It Their Mission To Film Incidents Of Police Brutality
The men who filmed the deaths of Eric Garner and Freddie Gray are the subjects of a new documentary.
Black Athletes Are Black People, And Black People Are Dying
For those who consider football a fantasy, players protesting police brutality is a problem because the truth is laid bare: that even in the realm of the fantastic, black life in this country isn’t valued.
This Miami Dolphins Player Got Emotional When Asked About Trump's "Son Of A Bitch" Comment
"I’ve got a daughter, and she’s going to have to live in this world."
Video Shows White Ohio Police Officer Punching A Black Man In The Face
The officer, Michael Amiott, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
15 Reasons Why "Do The Right Thing" Is The Only Summer Movie That Matters
Barack and Michelle.
“Detroit” Is Preaching To The Choir
Detroit might be about black people, but it isn't teaching black people anything wholly new.
Three Chicago Cops Have Been Indicted On Felony Charges Related To Laquan McDonald's Fatal Shooting
Three Chicago Police Department officers have been indicted on conspiracy, obstruction, and misconduct over the shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014.
Why "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Finally Got Real About Racial Profiling
Brooklyn Nine-Nine writer Phil Augusta Jackson: “Racism is still a very real thing in this country ... it's a complex issue that is worth talking about."
An Emotional Vigil Was Held For Alton Sterling As Officers Avoided Federal Charges
Gathered in front of the Triple S Food Mart where the 37-year-old was killed, his family renewed their call for charges to be filed in the case.
Inside The “Dear White People” Episode That Changes Everything
"After I read the script in its entirety for the first time, I went home and cried over what was about to happen because it’s so real and so authentic."
The Cop Filmed Shooting A Man In The Back Has Pled Guilty To Using Excessive Force
A bystander filmed then-North Charleston Officer Michael Slager firing his handgun multiple times, striking Walter Scott in the back as he ran away following a traffic stop.
A Teen Wore A Dress To Prom With The Faces Of Black Victims Of Police Brutality Designed On It
The dress, which features images of black men, women, and children who died as a result of police brutality, is going viral on the internet.
The Shocking Case Of O.J. Simpson
Did O.J. really do it?
No, A UN Court Did Not Apologise To Police On Behalf Of A Woman Who Said She Was Mistreated
A lawyer for Chaka Laguerre, who works at the International Court of Justice, told BuzzFeed News that there appears “to be a clear attempt to manipulate the outside world into accepting [the police’s] version of events."
Fuck Politeness, Let's Rage: I'm Done Asking Nicely For Women's Rights
It's been four years since we took to the streets. We've calmed down since, but nothing has actually changed. Where did the rage go?
2016 Was The Year Black Lives Matter Went Global
Activists for black, brown, and Indigenous rights around the world have adopted the Black Lives Matter slogan alongside homegrown movements against racism and police brutality.
Ava DuVernay's "13th" Questions Media Use Of Police Brutality Videos
"Can you imagine the last moments of your loved one [on video] in such a violent manner, and anyone can use it and not even ask your permission?"
"Shots Fired" Is The Show Everyone Will Be Talking About
"Our sons’ reactions to the Trayvon Martin trial, and Mike Brown… Trying to explain to them what was going on… This was a way for us to speak to all that," co-creator Gina Prince-Bythewood said.
People Are Moved By This Young Girl's Tearful Speech About Police Shootings
"It's a shame that our mothers and fathers are killed and we can't even see them anymore."
Two Cops Suspended After Allegedly Intentionally Killing A Woodchuck With A Golf Cart
The two officers are accused of chasing the animal in a golf cart to the point of exhaustion before running it over.
An Aboriginal Man Says He Was The Victim Of Horrific Police Brutality
"I’m black, they don’t like blackfellas."
Family Of Those Killed By NYPD Push For More Police Accountability
Family members sent a letter opposing the City Council speaker's “attempt to block the Right to Know Act by using a backroom deal.”
The Most Dramatic Stories You Can't Miss This Week
This week for BuzzFeed News, Albert Samaha details a web of police intimidation and retaliation. Read that and these other great stories from BuzzFeed and around the web.
People Are Pretty Shocked About Michael Jordan's Statement On Police Brutality
"I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement..." – Michael Jordan.
“That’s How We Survive": When Police Brutality Turns Mothers Into Activists
Before the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner took to the streets in protest, there was Iris Baez, a homemaker who became an activist after an NYPD officer killed her son Anthony in 1994.
Black People Discussed Police Brutality And How It Affects Them
“It was unbelievable in the fact that it wasn’t unbelievable.”
These Parents Opened Up About The Reality Of Raising Black Children In The U.S.
"Mommy, are you gonna get shot by the police?"
23 Celebrities Talked About Some Ways Black Americans Have Been Killed
"We have the equal right to live."
An Eighth-Grader Perfectly Nailed What White Privilege Is With One Poem
"When I was born, I had a success story already written."
Common Just Freestyled About Race-Related Issues And Shut It Down
"The color of my skin, they comparing it to sin."
Beyoncé Just Did A Badass Boss Thing And Made "Boycott Beyoncé" Tees
All hail the queen.
Beyoncé Set The Record Straight And Said “Formation” Isn’t Anti-Police
The singer talked at length about her life during an in-depth interview with Elle magazine.
Paying The Price
Forcing out prosecutors who refuse to treat police shootings as serious crimes is a significant milestone in the movement against unjustified police shootings of black Americans.
Jury Says San Francisco Police Didn't Use Excessive Force In Fatal Shooting
The jury denied the family of Alex Nieto — a young Latino man who was a security guard — monetary damages in the case.
Family Of Unarmed Teen Killed By NYPD Officer Calls For His Resignation
"What this city just told me two days ago is that you're not safe anymore in your home," Ramarley Graham's mother told BuzzFeed News.
"Black-ish" Was Open And Honest About Police Brutality In America
"The system is rigged against us."
"I'd Have To Have Two Souls"
Baltimore has one of the most diverse police forces in the country. So why are community relations still so bad?
Chicago Cop Sues Family Of 19-Year-Old Man He Killed Last Year
The police officer wants $10 million in damages for "emotional trauma."
The Brief Life And Tragic Death Of Akai Gurley
In November 2014, Akai Gurley was shot and killed by a rookie police officer in the stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project. As the officer's trial begins, Gurley’s family and friends tell BuzzFeed News the definitive story of the man they lost.
This Video Shows A Police Officer Repeatedly Pushing A Young Mother In The Chest
The video is going viral amid accusations of police brutality.
She Was Raped By A Cop, Then Forced To Relive It
After she was raped by a sheriff's deputy, Lindsay F. sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Even after her attacker was convicted, the department did everything it could to evade responsibility.
15 Memorable Crime Stories We Published This Year
An exoneree trying to rebuild his life. A woman arrested for reporting her rape. Illegally imported execution drugs. The charismatic leader of a shady religious group. A cop accused of sexually assaulting a dozen women. A black man beaten in an Oakland Whole Foods. Bongs as the new banks. The mystery of an epidemic of murder in Detroit. Here are 15 of the most moving, unnerving, infuriating, revelatory, and memorable crime stories published by BuzzFeed News in 2015.
Police Officer Who Allegedly Punched An Indigenous Woman May Not Be Punished
A video showing the alleged incident has caused outrage online.
First Freddie Gray Case Ends In Mistrial
After three days of deliberations, the Baltimore jury was unable to reach a verdict in the first trial of a police officer associated with the death of Freddie Gray. U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings said he has been informed prosecutors will attempt a retrial.
Defense Rests In Baltimore Officer's Trial For Death Of Freddie Gray
One of the last witnesses was a Baltimore police captain who said the officer "went beyond what many officers would have done" when he checked on Gray.
Officer Who Witnessed City Marshals Fatally Shooting 6-Year-Old Boy Said He Didn't Fear For His Life
Two city marshals were indicted on murder charges on Thursday in November's shooting death of Jeremy Mardis in Louisiana.
Chicago Protesters Demand Mayor's Resignation Over Police Brutality
Hundreds of protesters took the streets in Chicago after Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday apologized for the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
Baltimore Police Officer Takes Stand In Freddie Gray Case
Taking the stand in his own defense, Officer William Porter testified that he sought to assist Gray but was uncertain that his injuries were real.
Prosecution Rests In Trial Of Cop Charged In Freddie Gray’s Death
Defense attorneys will take their turn Wednesday in the first of six trials for Baltimore police officers charged in death of 25-year-old black man.
On Trial, Baltimore Officer Says He Tried To Help Freddie Gray
Officer William Porter, the first of six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man in Baltimore who died in police custody, claims he sought help for Gray.
Freddie Gray Told Officer: "Help Me. Help Me Up."
One of six Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray offered his version of events in a video interview shown in his trial Friday.
Baltimore Cop Charged In Freddie Gray Case: “Take The Video To Media”
The first of six trials for Baltimore police officers implicated in the death of Freddie Gray turns to a series of cell phone videos where Gray can be heard screaming.
Opening Arguments Begin In First Freddie Gray Trial
Opening arguments have begun in the trial of William Porter, one of six Baltimore police officers facing charges associated with the death of a young black man in police custody in April.
First Trial In Freddie Gray Death Begins
Officer William Porter goes on trial Monday on charges related to the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died while in police custody. The trial is the first of six associated with Gray's death.
Family Of Homeless Man Beaten To Death By Police Reaches $4.9 Million Settlement
Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old man with schizophrenia, died after he was beaten by police officers in Fullerton, California, sparking widespread protests.
7 Essays To Read: Getting Ghosted, No Sex 'Til Marriage, And Sexist Books
This week, Bim Adewunmi interviewed a couple that is abstaining from sex until marriage. Read that and other essays from Literary Hub, Catapult, and more.
New Tamir Rice Report Says Fatal Police Shooting Was "Tragic But Reasonable"
This third report, like previous reports, says a rookie police officer was justified in shooting the 12-year-old boy who was playing with a toy pistol in an Ohio park.
Saul Williams On The Politics Of Race And Poetry In America
"Poetry has always been there for me when I needed it."
Unarmed D.C. Teen Tackled By Police Considers Lawsuit For Civil Rights Violations
Jason Goolsby, who was tackled and arrested by the Metropolitan police after a woman at an ATM said she made him feel "uncomfortable," ran from the officer because he "feared for his life."
Why Does The NYPD Almost Never Apologize?
It has to do with whether you're a famous tennis star, but also with the mechanics of civil lawsuits.
Mistrial In Case Of Alabama Cop Accused Of Paralyzing Elderly Indian Man
Sureshbhai Patel was severely injured after a Madison police officer arrested him following a report of a suspicious "skinny black guy."
Freddie Gray Trials To Stay In Baltimore
Many in Baltimore worried that moving the trials could trigger unrest like the one seen in April.
These Men Tried On A Police Uniform And Things Got Intense
"I look at myself and see all the officers that didn't want to mess with me but had to."
People In Baltimore Are Worried About More Riots As Freddie Gray Case Heads To Court
As a contentious hearing approaches, a tense city hopes for the best — and gets ready for the worst.
The Short, Hard Life Of Freddie Gray
Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody inspired riots in Baltimore because it was all too familiar to all too many people. His short life was punctuated by a series of difficult and confounding encounters with the criminal justice system that were even more common than his death.
7 Essays To Read: Social Media As Obituaries, Selfie Sticks, And Shaving Your Legs
This week, Stacia L. Brown wrote about stalking the Facebook pages of black teens who have died at the hands of white cops. Read that and other essays from The Cut, Grantland, The Guardian, and more.
Janelle Monáe Calls Out Police Brutality With New Song
"Hell You Talmbout" is a bop with a chilling message.
An Egyptian Man Tried To Protect His Fiancé From Harassment — And The Police Beat Him Up
The video has gone viral in Egypt.
New York Woman Says She Was Called "Dyke" And Attacked By Police
"Instead of helping me and my girlfriend and arresting our attacker, more officers piled on top of me," Stephanie Dorceant said. The Brooklyn District Attorney is investigating the allegations.
Family Attorney: Dashcam Video Of Sandra Bland's Arrest Shows Texas Trooper Trying To Pull Her Out Of Her Car
The attorney for Sandra Bland, who was found dead of an apparent suicide in her jail cell three days after a traffic stop arrest, said that dashcam video shows she did not strike the trooper. The Texas Department of Public Safety said it had identified procedural violations in her arrest.
Protest Ban Continues In The Hague After Aruba National Died In Police Custody
Mitch Henriquez was arrested by The Hague police at a local music festival on June 27 and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Since then, 200 people were arrested and a ban on group assembly is still in place.
7 Essays To Read This Week: Black Joy, God, And When You "Literally Can't Even"
This week, Alex Andreou wrote about caring for his mother with Alzheimer's for BuzzFeed Idea's Carers Issue. Read that and others from The New Inquiry, Hazlitt, The New Yorker, and more.
This Man Was Shot By The Police, Then Charged With Battery
A Chicago man is suing after being tased and shot in the foot by police over what he said was a case of mistaken identity. He claims the officer who shot him said, “I should have killed you.”
