Ferguson: A Report from Occupied Territory - medium-length documentary
After Michael Brown was killed by Officer Darren Wilson, the youth-led protests in Ferguson, Missouri fueled a national movement against police brutality. After the Department of Justice released a blistering report finding systematic racism and prejudice against blacks in the Ferguson Police Department, protests continued, the police chief and several Ferguson officials resigned, and two police officers were injured in a shooting. This problem, however, is not unique to Ferguson. St. Louis County is made of around 90 municipalities, each with their own police departments and courts. Residents report similar discriminatory treatment at the hands of law enforcement. And with so many different jurisdictions, a small infraction like an expired license plate can turn into dozens of fines and eventually warrants. Those in St. Louis who live below the poverty line are faced with the reality of buying food or paying fines. This documentary turns to the residents of St. Louis County to explain what it’s like to be racially profiled and under siege.