THE WIRE 08/15/14 By David Ludwig Elizabeth R. Beavers and Michael Shank in The New York Times on why American police forces are too militarized. Beavers and Shank write that the reaction to protests in Ferguson after the death of Michael Brown demonstrate that U.S. police forces have been over-equipped […]
NEW YORK TIMES 08/15/14 By Michael Shank and Elizabeth Beavers WASHINGTON — FERGUSON, Mo., has become a virtual war zone. In the wake of the shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, outsize armored vehicles have lined streets and tear gas has filled the air. Officers dressed in camouflage […]
CBS NEWS 08/15/14 By Stephanie Condon Washington lawmakers let out a collective gasp on Thursday after seeing startling images of police officers decked out with combat gear and tanks to respond to largely peaceful protesters in Ferguson, Missouri. While there may have been some looters and violent individuals among the […]
REUTERS 08/14/14 By Michael Shank and Elizabeth Beavers The article originally ran last October. It has been updated by the authors. There is a growing bipartisan public outrage about the local police force’s fiercely militarized response to protestors in Ferguson, Missouri. From Democrats to Republicans, progressive to libertarian, citizens across […]
THINK PROGRESS 08/14/14 By Nicole Flatlow Enraged by scenes from Ferguson, Missouri that many have analogized to a war zone, a member of Congress said Thursday he will propose a bill to roll back the militarization of U.S. police forces. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) tweeted about his proposal after days […]
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 08/14/14 By Paul Shinkman An image of a camouflaged man in Ferguson, Missouri, training a sniper rifle on a group of protesters with their hands up has forced Americans to ask themselves what kind of protection they’re willing to tolerate. The growing militarization of domestic […]
CDN 02/12/14 By Michael Shank and Erica Marshall WASHINGTON, February 12, 2014 —This April, when the District of Columbia begins its public debate over the draft budget for fiscal year 2015, there is an opportunity to give many of the District’s youth a second chance on life – literally. All […]
WASHINGTON TIMES 11/05/13 By Michael Shank WASHINGTON, November 5, 2013 — The escalating conflict between the Washington Redskins football franchise, its owners and fans, and the growing community of concerned citizens, tribal leaders and District of Columbia City Councilmembers who want the football team to change its name is reaching […]
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 08/15/13 By Michael Shank This month, Washington – and the world – commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington. While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s progressive dreaming of a world where racial and economic equality is commonplace may have been […]
WASHINGTON POST 05/08/13 By Michael Shank and Lindsay Schubiner Mayor Vincent C. Gray(D) proposed a bill last week that would permit undocumented District residents to acquire driver’s licenses and identification cards. D.C. is the latest in a string of states that have taken similar steps in response to immigrant rights […]