Our Voices

The Cases of Michael Brown and Rekia Boyd

In 2012, Rekia Boyd, a 22-year-old Black woman, was killed by an off-duty police officer in Chicago, IL. In 2014, Black teenager Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, MO. To this day, their killers have never been held accountable.

Now, on the 9-year anniversary of Micheal Brown’s murder, we and the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center at Howard University have filed briefs before the @ComisionIDH requesting a hearing on the Brown and Boyd cases. Bringing these cases before an international human rights body not only marks the latest step in a years-long legal journey, but also a first-of-its-kind legal endeavor.

New year, new us. Same mission.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is rebranding to honor the legacy of our founder and hero, Mrs. Ethel Skakel Kennedy. From now on, we will proudly be known as the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center

While our name is changing, our mission and work remain the same. We will continue to fight injustice, advance human rights, and hold governments accountable around the world in 2026 and beyond.