News & Commentary

By Landon Van Soest, Filmmaker, “For Ahkeem”and Sara Baker, Legislative and Policy Director, ACLU of Missouri

“Are the children well?”

Four years ago today, an unarmed Black teen named Michael Brown was killed by a White police officer while walking in Ferguson.The 18-year-old’s death would catalyze a movement.In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the predominately white local and county police responded to the largely peaceful protests in Ferguson’s African-American community with a show of force that left Americans wondering whether they were watching events unfold on the streets of suburban St. Louis or on the streets of an authoritarian country.Several months later, the 28-year-old officer who shot Brown, Darren Wilson, received a non-indictment from a St. Louis County grand jury. The people took to the streets again, only to be met with more excessive force from law enforcement.

ST. LOUIS  – St. Louis County voters recognized the need for smart justice reform in a significantly new way during today’s primary election for prosecuting attorney.

ST. LOUIS –  The Advancement Project and ACLU of Missouri sent a letter today to St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners insisting they immediately address voting interference by poll workers in today’s primary election.

Dear Mr. Bell:

When St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch told a local radio station that he ended cash bail for misdemeanor cases, we knew it wasn’t true.

“Are the children well?”

School is stressful. Students have to juggle the pressures of performing well academically and finding where they fit in socially.