网红爆料-MN Files Class Action for Protesters Injured During George Floyd Protests
MINNESOTA - The 网红爆料 of Minnesota and Fish & Richardson filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of protesters who were injured during peaceful demonstrations over the murder of George Floyd.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota against the City of Minneapolis, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, police union head Bob Kroll, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, and Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matthew Langer.
The lawsuit alleges that the Minneapolis Police and the Minnesota State Patrol used unnecessary and excessive force to suppress people鈥檚 First Amendment rights to assemble peacefully and speak out against injustice. Peaceful protesters were teargassed, pepper-sprayed and shot with foam bullets and flashbangs to intimidate them and quash the protests. Law enforcement often fired without warning or orders to leave.
All four of our named plaintiffs - Nekima Levy Armstrong, Marques Armstrong, Terry Hempfling, and Rachel Clark 鈥 suffered injuries that remain two months later, including severe bruising and vocal issues from the tear gas. They鈥檙e now afraid to protest, and are either limiting their activities or bringing protective gear.
鈥淣o one should face tear gassing, foam bullets or pepper spray while exercising their right to peacefully protest,鈥 said 网红爆料-MN Legal Director Teresa Nelson. 鈥淭hat law enforcement here followed their typical pattern of using indiscriminate force rather than respecting the First Amendment, especially following the brutal murder of George Floyd by four of their own, is disgraceful and an affront to our Constitution.鈥
鈥淚t is deeply disturbing that the MPD chose to respond to protests 鈥 and to the justifiable frustration and outrage that people feel over George Floyd鈥檚 murder by MPD 鈥 with violence,鈥 said plaintiff Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer and activist. 鈥淎s one of the protesters who was teargassed, I still feel the lingering effects of such a strong chemical agent. We are participating in the lawsuit to protect our First Amendment freedoms of speech and the right to peaceably assemble in protest, which will help us fight for justice for George Floyd.鈥
The lawsuit seeks a declaration that this police conduct violated the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, an injunction and an award of damages and attorneys鈥 fees.
鈥淔reedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and due process of law are bedrock principles of a democratic and free society. The police in Minnesota, and throughout our country, should be protecting and serving those who exercise their rights under these laws, not impeding and chilling such actions,鈥 said Fish & Richardson principal Ahmed J. Davis. 鈥淓very person in this country should be able to peacefully protest without fear of injury or harm, and we plan to continue fighting for these basic constitutional and human rights.鈥
The lawsuit also outlines a sustained history of unconstitutional actions by the Minneapolis police against protesters, and an ongoing failure to train, supervise, investigate, and discipline officers for First Amendment violations.