Black Lives Lawyer
New York magazine|July 8-21, 2019

Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice—Ben Crump is trying to turn a protest movement into a legal crusade.

John H . Richardson
Black Lives Lawyer

In the lobby of a luxury hotel in Atlanta, Ben Crump is meeting a new client for the first time. His face is round and somber as a war mask. He’s wearing a dark suit, a crisp white shirt with French cuffs, gold cuff links, a heavy gold watch, and a thick gold wedding ring. On his left lapel, a gold Eagle of Justice spreads its wings.

Like many of the lawsuits Crump takes on, this one seems destined to make national headlines. But unlike the explosive battles that made him famous—he represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown Jr., Tamir Rice, Alesia Thomas, and Terence Crutcher and has worked on many, many less notorious Black Lives Matter cases—this one doesn’t involve a grieving relative, police violence, or a dead child. The man seated across from him is a successful financial-services executive, dressed with casual elegance in a dark blazer and knit shirt, who was educated at a prestigious HBCU and is accompanied by an old friend who happens to be a former state representative. His trouble started, he says, when he went into the wrong bank to cash a $2,000 check and the teller told him to wait while he checked with the branch manager. “I asked him if there was a problem, and he told me, ‘No, it’ll just be a second,’ ” the executive says. “Then a policewoman comes up and says, ‘I’m here for you.’ ” He laughs. “I thought she was just being friendly! Maybe she’s a client, you know.”

“Because you’ve never been arrested,” Crump says.

“I don’t get arrested,” he scoffs.

“And at some point she said, ‘Don’t run’?”

“When she was handcuffing me,” the executive answers. “She said, ‘I can tell you want to run. Don’t run.’ ” Looking freshly astonished, he asks, “Run where? And why?”

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW YORK MAGAZINEView all
Enchanting and Exhausting
New York magazine

Enchanting and Exhausting

Wicked makes a charming but bloated film.

time-read
5 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
Nicole Kidman Lets Loose
New York magazine

Nicole Kidman Lets Loose

She's having a grand old time playing wealthy matriarchs on the verge of blowing their lives up.

time-read
6 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
How Mike Myers Makes His Own Reality
New York magazine

How Mike Myers Makes His Own Reality

Directing him in Austin Powers taught me what it means to be really, truly funny.

time-read
4 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
The Art of Surrender
New York magazine

The Art of Surrender

Four decades into his career, Willem Dafoe is more curious about his craft than ever.

time-read
10 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
The Big Macher Restaurant Is Back
New York magazine

The Big Macher Restaurant Is Back

ON A WARM NIGHT in October, a red carpet ran down a length of East 26th Street.

time-read
2 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
Showing Its Age
New York magazine

Showing Its Age

Borgo displays a confidence that can he only from experience.

time-read
3 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
Keeping It Simple on Lower Fifth
New York magazine

Keeping It Simple on Lower Fifth

Jack Ceglic and Manuel Fernandez-Casteleiro's apartment is full of stories but not distractions.

time-read
3 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
REASON TO LOVE NEW YORK
New York magazine

REASON TO LOVE NEW YORK

THERE'S NOT MUCH in New York that has staying power. Every other day, a new scandal outscandals whatever we were just scandalized by; every few years, a hotter, scarier downtown set emerges; the yoga studio up the block from your apartment that used to be a coffee shop has now become a hybrid drug front and yarn store.

time-read
4 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
Disunion: Ingrid Rojas Contreras
New York magazine

Disunion: Ingrid Rojas Contreras

A Rift in the Family My in-laws gave me a book by a eugenicist. Our relationship is over.

time-read
5 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024
Gwen Whiting
New York magazine

Gwen Whiting

Two years after a mass recall and a bacterial outbreak, the founder of the Laundress is on cleanup duty.

time-read
6 mins  |
Dec 2-15, 2024