Tag: Black Lives Matter

The Legal Defense Fund is asking Congress to investigate a troubling pattern of deaths of Black people whose families and communities say deserve more scrutiny. In an August 24 letter to congressional leaders, the LDF called for creation of a congressional commission to investigate suspicious deaths across the country, improve federal data collection and make findings available to the public. The request comes as several recent cases have raised questions about whether local authorities are adequately investigating deaths quickly classified as suicides, accidents or undetermined causes.

When the names of Black victims fade from the headlines, the questions of accountability often linger. Some suspects are acquitted or never charged; others are convicted. And sometimes, families win millions of dollars in civil court. No settlement can undo a death or make a family whole. But these legal victories can still matter, especially when they force cities to acknowledge the harm caused.

The Supreme Court has made the unexpected decision to let stand a ruling that acknowledges the distinct experiences of Black men when it comes to police interactions, a nod towards the complexities of systemic racism and its impact on communities of color.

Construction workers started to dismantle the Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House on Monday following threats by Republicans to cut transportation funding if the plaza was not renamed.