No Justice: One White Police Officer, One Black Family, and How One Bullet Ripped Us Apart

by Robbie Tolan, Lawrence Ross, Ken Griffey Jr. (Foreword)

He was shot by mistake, and yet no one was willing to take responsibility for it. How do you pick up the pieces of your life as a young black man when society and the legal system let you down?
NO JUSTICE is the harrowing story of Robbie Tolan, who early on one New Year's Eve morning, found himself being rushed to the hospital. A white police officer had shot him in the chest after mistakenly accusing him of stealing his own car...while in his own driveway.
In a journey that took nearly a decade, Tolan and his family saw his case go before the United States Supreme Court in a groundbreaking decision, while Tolan struggled with how to put his life back together. Holding him together through this journey was the strength of his mother and father, his faith in God, and an impenetrable belief that he deserved justice like any other American who'd been wronged.
NO JUSTICE is the story about what happened after the cameras and social media protests went away. Robbie Tolan was left with the physical and mental devastation from having his body violated by someone who was supposed to serve and protect him. His story reminds us that police brutality is not a theoretical talking point in a larger nationwide argument. This story is about Robbie Tolan courageously picking up the pieces of his life, even as he fights for justice for all.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Social Justice, Race, Audiobook, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 9, 2018

About the author

ROBBIE TOLAN has spent the past decade fighting for the rights of black victims seeking justice when dealing with police officers and the judicial system. His law-making case, Tolan v. Cotton, has set the precedent in the way judges are allowed to grant police officers qualified immunity. Since its ruling in 2014, Tolan’s case has been cited in and helped thousands of cases involving police brutality. Tolan’s foundation, Project 1231, is dedicated to making sure that victims of police brutality get the support they need. He currently lives in Houston.

Reviews

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are not furious after reading this book, you weren't paying attention. I'm actually too angry right now to write a proper review. Full review to come in the near future. This book is a must-read. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Trust me, that honest review is coming as soon as I stop shaking in anger.

See my full review here:

https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...

[Jane Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black Lives Matter Story

I was disappointed in this book. Not that I believe he is not right, but because he showed that he is immature and does not deal with reality. There were mistakes in the book, the use of the wrong words in trying to express something. After all this, I am certain that he is correct in his judgment of the police officers.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this riveting account of the travesty of justice that Robbie Tolan and his family suffered at the hands of those undeservedly paid to protect all Americans from harm!

[T.L. Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Justice: One White Police Officer, One Black Family, and How One Bullet Ripped Us Apart by Robbie Tolan and Lawrence Ross gripped my attention from the first page. It's the true story of Tolan surviving being shot by the police, his healing journey, and his attempts to find justice. Tolan and Ross tell the story like they're sitting in the room with the reader. They speak directly to the reader in Tolan's voice explaining his experience, his reactions, his perspective. He's honest about his anger, depression, and hope. He doesn't hold back about where his family had privileges poorer families might not have due to his father's baseball career as well as his own. He also explains how those privileges didn't protect him when he faced the police who accused him of stealing his own car in front of his own house. No Justice demonstrates how the court system, criminal and civil, works and doesn't work for those who are forced to participate in it. Tolan's story offers a perspective on police brutality, biases in the system, and personal biases as well as institutional and societal racism that isn't always comfortable to read but is an important part of the conversation. While No Justice is written in an easy to read manner that at times has a conversational feel, it's message is straightforward and unequivocal.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a 40-some white woman who grew up in the ghetto in the late 70s NY, daughter of a recent immigrant, reading a book by a 20 something black man from a wealthy family in Texas who opens by calling upon a 1971 Dirty Harry movie as proof- deep down in 2015 all Whities want every black young man dead... OBVIOUSLY becasue in 1971 Clint Eastwood asked a punk if he feels lucky? Huruh?

Spending hour upon hour listening to a black man tell me that becasue I'm white, I love it when black men get shot... IF MY WHITE HEART OF HEARTS - the same as every white person- WANTED YOU TO DIE WHY WOULD I READ YOUR BOOK. I don't want black men to die, but I'd like Tolan to STFU-
I DID NOT
I AM NOT

As long as ALL WHITE people and ALL BLACK people- are terms that can start a sentence- we're all fucked.. You more than me, Tolan.

[Francesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Justice is a heartbreaking story that tries to expose what is concealed behind the tendency among white police officers to shoot black civilians more often than white civilians. Black people being shot is not just an isolated incident, but something that happens regularly. Robbie Tolan strongly believes that America loves shooting black people and that blackness is seen as an existential threat in the white supremacist psyche. Robbie Tolan gives an extraordinary testimony about what he had personally experienced since he was shot by a white police officer. Even though he was innocent, the criminal justice system gave him ‘no justice’ and that is what happens every year in the United States where it is nearly impossible of indicting police officers in the killing or shooting of black people. I highly recommend reading this book!!

[Ree Gatlin-Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad and SO True..injustice is alive daily for blacks

This was a heartfelt and sad story. It angers me that cops can get away with murder and attempted murder on an innocent citiZen that was in front of his own home and regarding his own car that the cops THOUGHT was stolen. I am amazed at America’s justice system that turns a deaf ear and a blind eye on to this injustice. Thanks for sharing Robbie and I hope telling your story continues to heal your soul and spirit.

[Carter Jedras · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Justice: Robbie Tolan and Lawrence Ross. I loved reading this book not just because it was interesting but hooking me to read more and more. When Robbie arrived home one day in his car he was shot trying to help his mom pushed up against the wall by the officer. He was shot because the cops thought the car was stolen when it was his. This book is about the trial of the white officer vs a black man who was shot.

[Arwen LD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading for Black Lives Matter advocates.

One harrowing night changed Tolan's life, and though he owes nothing, he has taken on the burden of detailing the repeated injustices he faced, why they matter, and what we need to do to change the system that continues to allow the violence against black and brown bodies to occur.

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually did not complete reading this book. I am so, so sorry for this man having been shot, but with the current political climate, just cannot tolerate another rant by anyone. I could spend my entire life being angry and I just cannot be anxious all the time.

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST read for everyone! Especially given today's climate! We tend to forget the people and stories once the news fades away. Well written and heart breaking. The way Robbie was treated made me so mad.

Thank you NetGalley!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely enraging! Despite the title, I kept hoping that I misunderstood how it was going to go.
I had friends who lived in Bellaire & I guarantee the police knew who lived in his house (the family of a retired black athlete).

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very important story.

[Andrea Brinkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so important, I contacted the author and asked him to come speak at our school. People need to be aware. Everyone’s reality is different, but that doesn’t make one any less real than the other. Racial bias among law enforcement must be addressed so that police can do their job effectively and safely. It gets really messy.