feature: “black and unarmed women & girls killed by law enforcement”

“Shereese Francis’s sister had no idea that her attempt to help her sister would get her family member killed. On March 15, 2012, Shauna Francis called New York’s information hotline to get advice on how to best get her sister to the hospital. Shereese, she explained, was schizophrenic and had stopped taking her medication. After a transfer to an emergency line, Shauna was told that someone was on their way to her sister’s house to help. While officers on the scene grabbed Shereese, handcuffed her, and held her facedown into a mattress, the woman stopped breathing. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, writing that Francis died from “compression of trunk during agitated violent behavior (schizophrenia) while prone on bed and attempted restraint by police officers.” Shereese was 30 years old.”

“Seven-year-old Aiyana Jones fell asleep on the couch while watching TV and never woke up. During the night, police threw a flash grenade into the house near where the child slept and raided the home. Questions remain about whether the shot that killed Aiyana was fired from outside or inside the home, but all sides agree: While breaking into the home, a police officer on the scene opened fire and killed Aiyana. Neighbors reported that they tried to warn officers that there were children inside the home before they conducted their raid on May 16, 2010.”