The Ferguson Uprising, Shadow Reporting, and Human Rights Experimentalism

In Fall 2014, frontline activists from Ferguson, Missouri traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to testify in front of the UN Committee Against Torture while the US government appeared before the body. The Ferguson to Geneva delegation participated in “shadow reporting,” which describes opportunities for impacted people to confront the state in a multilateral forum and challenge the state’s official account. Through this practice, ordinary people have an opportunity to shape international law based on their experience to suit their interests. Shadow reporting is a key platform for a critical form of transnational politics and contributes to an evolving view on the political nature of international law.