Although not explicitly stated, the plot shows a similarity with the killing of Eric Garner incident, by which the film was inspired.

The story switches to Manny Ortega applying for a job, but he hesitates on the convicted felon section of the application.

In an incident very similar to Eric Garner's death, six police officers attempt to arrest Darius Larson, a friend of Manny's who sells loose cigarettes outside a small bodega.

He then tells Marisol that Darius didn't reach for a gun, but she cautions him to avoid any public disclosure because of his new job.

Manny sees a suspicious black vehicle outside his building that speeds away when he gets near, so he checks his apartment to make sure it's secure.

The narrative focus then shifts to Dennis Williams, who is watching Manny through the interrogation room's one-way window.

Dennis is then seen interacting in a playful yet competitive basketball game with local kids, in particular Zyrick, but it is undercut by the fact they spit on the patrol car's door handle.

A scout comes to recruit Zyrick at his home, but asks him questions about his character that imply racial assumptions.

Zyrick nevertheless joins the protest, during which the crowd chants "I am... Darius Larson" before they sit down and raise their fists peacefully.

The police tell them they will be dispersed by force; soon after the cops start using tear gas and other aggressive measures, whereupon Zyrick runs home.

The website’s critics consensus reads, "Well-acted and visually stylish, Monsters and Men tells its timely story with enough compassion and complexity to make up for occasionally uneven execution.