A group of protesters in Chicago have sued the city's police department for brutally attacking and falsely arresting demonstrators this summer.
In the 205-page report, more than four dozen residents say that police countered lawful demonstrations against police violence "with brutal, violent, and unconstitutional tactics that are clearly intended to injure, silence, and intimidate Plaintiffs and other protesters." The lawsuit also claims that police beat protesters with batons and attacked demonstrators while they were on the ground. Later, the lawsuit adds that police confiscated the belongings of several protesters including backpacks, glasses and camera.
The Chicago Police Department has not responded to the lawsuit through the legal system yet. City officials have also said that they have not formally received the lawsuit.
“It is important to remember that these are allegations at this stage and not proof. We will review the complaint thoroughly, and each allegation it contains, once we have been served and respond through the courts as appropriate," spokeswoman Kathleen Fieweger said.
One of the officers named in the lawsuit is Police Superintendent David Brown. Brown has denied claims that he or his colleagues took inappropriate actions when handling protests over the summer.
“From what I saw, [officers] only took appropriate action when confronted with violence,” Brown said.
In response to the department's denial, protesters and attorney's have countered with statements of their own.
“While the plaintiffs were exercising their First Amendment rights to protest anti-Black police violence Chicago police officers brutally hit them with batons, including strikes to the head, punched them in the face, tackled them to the ground, kneed and kicked them, dragged them through the streets, used chemical agents on them and kettled them," attorney Vanessa del Valle said.
“The officer who punched me needs to be held accountable for his actions,” demonstrator Miracle Boyd added.
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