Eleanor Bumpurs, a 66-year-old Black grandmother, was killed in her own home in 1984. She wasn’t a victim of gang violence or domestic abuse—she was a victim of the system.

Suffering from arthritis and mental illness, Eleanor struggled to keep up with bills. Instead of offering help, New York City sent armed officers to evict her over a $98 debt. When she resisted, Officer Stephen Sullivan shot her twice with a shotgun, ending her life.

Her death became a symbol of police brutality, racism, and the mistreatment of mentally ill people, sparking protests and demands for change.

Eleanor Bumpurs’ story is a reminder that poverty should never be a death sentence—and the fight for justice is far from over.