Haitian immigrant Abner Louima was attacked and raped by white police officers in 1997. The case became a national symbol of police brutality and fed perceptions that New York City police officers were harassing or abusing young black men as part a citywide crackdown on crime.

The case also marked the beginning of the unraveling of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani’s relationship with the black community in New York. That relationship would deteriorate even further, after the police shot two unarmed black men, Amadou Diallo in February 1999 and Patrick Dorismondin 2000.

This banned cover from The New Yorker subtly shows his prejudice. The sketch is by Harry Bliss.