Ferguson Images and Social Media's Role in Documenting Police Violence and Protests
On August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was unarmed, was shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. His body remained on the street for more than four hours, sparking widespread protests. The police response, equipped with military-style gear, echoed the events of the 1963 Birmingham marches. At 4:55 pm, St. Louis alderman Antonio French shared a photo of the tense situation on Twitter, followed shortly by David Carson from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at 5:07 pm, and a quadriptych at 9:04 pm. While documenting the police's actions, photographer Scott Olson was arrested. Additionally, cellphone videos, including one by Piaget Crenshaw, highlighted the contrast with higher-quality media. From June 25 to August 10, 2014, the 'Wanted' project showcased posters in Harlem, focusing on the criminalization of Black and Latino youth.
Key facts
- Michael Brown was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.
- Brown was unarmed and shot at least six times, with his body left in the street for over four hours.
- Police responded to protests with military weapons and armor, drawing comparisons to 1963 Birmingham civil rights marches.
- Antonio French posted a photograph on Twitter at 4:55 pm on August 9, 2014 showing a tense police cordon.
- David Carson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch posted images including a quadriptych at 9:04 pm on August 9, 2014.
- Getty Images photographer Scott Olson was arrested for photographing outside a designated media area on August 11.
- Piaget Crenshaw captured cellphone video of the shooting's aftermath, later broadcast on CNN.
- The 'Wanted' project displayed posters in Harlem from June 25 to August 10, 2014, addressing the misperception of Black and Latino youth as criminals.
Entities
Artists
- Dread Scott
- Kevin Blythe Sampson
- Hilton Als
Institutions
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Getty Images
- CNN
- No Longer Empty
- Stop Mass Incarceration Network
- Street Attack
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Locations
- Ferguson
- Missouri
- St. Louis
- Birmingham
- Alabama
- Harlem
- United States