Recent Streetsblog LA posts about profiling

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 […]

Filed Under: Ugly Things You Find on the Interwebs

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jan 14, 2015 | 10 Comments

“Wow… is all I can say,” wrote Veronica Davis, avid cyclist and member of Black Women Bike: D.C. under a photo on a facebook page entitled, “Black People with Bikes that Aren’t Theirs,” that insinuated she was riding a stolen bike. “The ignorance of this page is astounding,” she continued. “Especially since this is a […]

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 […]

Reclaiming Public Space for Marginalized Communities: Bikes Don’t Fix Everything, But They Can Help

By Sahra Sulaiman | Aug 19, 2014 | No Comments

The recent tragic events in Ferguson, Missouri, and here at home in South L.A. have served to underscore just how hostile the public space can be to people of color, particularly those of lesser means. For those that live that reality day in and day out in Los Angeles, that is not news. I’ve documented […]

“You Don’t Belong Here:” Sheriffs Profile Reporter

By Sahra Sulaiman | Aug 12, 2013 | 28 Comments

“Hi,” said a terse voice to my left. I turned my head to see a Sheriffs’ car rolling slowly down 92nd Street in Watts with me. The white deputy in the passenger seat who was sizing me up appeared highly displeased with whatever conclusion she had come to. They are way too close, I thought. […]

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