Recent Streetsblog LA posts about racial profiling

Ceebo Tha Rapper shoots a video near 65th and Broadway, where 25-year-old Ezell Ford was shot and killed by the police, answering critics that thought his first video called for violence against the police. Sahra Sulaiman/Streetsblog L.A.

Equity 101: Bikes v. Bodies on Bikes

By Sahra Sulaiman | Sep 28, 2016 | 6 Comments

“Maybe you didn’t catch that you jumped into a convo specifically about transportation/police issues?” snarked the self-described “police/community relations specialist” and bike advocate. I had jumped into the #moveequity twitter conversation to engage the prompt, “How can community groups and residents partner with law enforcement to build trust and create safer, fairer communities?” I did […]

This is what stopping youth or men of color often looks like, regardless of the reason for the stop. Mikey, Jonathan, and George/Jorge were frisked for weapons on Ave. 50 and York Blvd. in Highland Park in 2013 while waiting for friends. Sahra Sulaiman/LA Streetsblog

Man is Shot and Killed by the Officers He Called to Help Search for Stolen Bike. Is it a Livable Streets Issue?

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jul 17, 2015 | 20 Comments

Several months ago, I asked that a link to a story on the beating of Clinton Alford by LAPD officers be included in our daily headlines. The 22-year-old African-American man had been riding his bike along Avalon Blvd. near 55th St. in South L.A. one night when a car pulled up alongside him and someone […]

Members of the Black Kids on Bikes and their supporters gather for a photo during the MLK Day Parade along King Blvd. Sahra Sulaiman/Streetsblog L.A.

Are You Supposed to Be Here?: Officer Harasses Black Cyclists During MLK Day Parade

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jan 20, 2015 | 19 Comments

“Are you supposed to be in the parade?” Arms outstretched to halt the glacially-paced forward movement of the group, the LAPD officer stepped in front of long-time South L.A. Real Ryda and one of the area’s best-known cycling elders, William Holloway. We all looked at each other. Is this man serious? The Real Rydaz and […]

Days of Dialogue Opens Conversation on Police-Community Relations in South L.A., Gets an Earful

By Sahra Sulaiman | Oct 31, 2014 | 4 Comments

Dialogue was great, said a young man from Youth Justice Coalition as we left the Days of Dialogue on Police-Community Relations in the Aftermath of Ezell Ford and Michael Brown event held at Dr. Maya Angelou High School in South L.A. last night, but what he cared about was action. It seemed to be a […]

Mayor Eric Garcetti asks participants in the town hall on gun violence for suggestions of messages he should take with him to meet President Obama. Sahra Sulaiman/LA Streetsblog

“Invest in Us!” say South L.A. Youth in Response to Questions about How to Curb Violence at Town Hall with Garcetti

By Sahra Sulaiman | Aug 7, 2013 | 5 Comments

When asked by his group’s facilitator whether he believed the youth in South L.A. had opportunities — opportunities to grow, succeed, try new things, advance their education, you name it — one young man said he was convinced that the answer was a resounding “no.” It wasn’t just that opportunities weren’t there, the dapper teen […]

Gardena PD Ticket, Harass United Riders of South Los Angeles for Taking Lane while the Case of the Hit-and-Run Victim They Were Honoring Remains Unsolved

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jul 12, 2013 | 36 Comments

The United Riders of South Los Angeles had just left the memorial site for Benjamin Torres, killed last October in Gardena in a hit-and-run, when they were pulled over by the Gardena Police Department. They had stopped at the site to replace Torres’ original ghost bike, which had recently been removed by the city. They […]

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