Impactful Journalism, Five Decades in the Making
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Impactful Journalism, Five Decades in the Making
Today, Long Lead is launching our most ambitious production to date — and because you’re a newsletter subscriber, you can be the first to read it.
The People vs. Rubber Bullets by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie is a serialized explainer nearly two years in the making that dives deep into the brutal, 50-year history of less-lethal munitions and how law enforcement uses them.
A police officer aims a less-lethal gun near people during the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty
For decades, police have championed less-lethal rounds as life-saving alternatives to deadly force. The history of these “kinetic impact projectiles,” however, tells a different story — one of imprecise science, unmeasured usage, untrained police forces, death and disfigurement.
Starting today, with the publication of the first two stories in this six-part series, Long Lead is documenting the full story of these policing tools, from rubber bullets’ invention in 1970s Northern Ireland through the explosion of less-lethal shootings during the 2020 Black Lives Matters protests.
With revelatory reporting, stunning original and historical photography, and a captivating multimedia design, “The People vs. Rubber Bullets” is the most comprehensive explainer on less-lethal munitions ever produced.
Read parts one and two of “The People vs. Rubber Bullets” here:
This story was among the first freelance pitches Long Lead accepted when we launched in stealth early last year. It’s taken a massive team effort to bring this powerful story to you.
“The People vs. Rubber Bullets” gets more stirring with each installment. Parts three through six will publish in the coming weeks — watch your inbox to learn when those become available.
Longform journalism like this feature takes time, patience, and persistence to produce. On behalf of the Long Lead team, thank you for subscribing to, reading, and supporting our work.
John Patrick Pullen
Founding Editor, Long Lead
Read “The People Vs. Rubber Bullets”
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