James Willie Cooper, a 19-year-old African American male, was shot and killed on November 19, 1996, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The shooter was a white Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer. The shooting prompted widespread outrage and protests in the black community, with many describing the incident as racially motivated and unjustified.

The district attorney chose not to prosecute the officer, a decision that intensified community anger. Civil rights leader Ben Chavis called for a Black Monday boycott and march on January 27, 1997, to protest the prosecutorial decision and demand accountability. The case remained a focal point for calls for justice and for addressing racial tensions.