Lawsuits pile up across US over police tactics during George Floyd protests

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story included incorrect information about the University of California Davis.

Advocacy and civil rights groups are joining protesters across the U.S. in suing officials over “unacceptable and excessive” force used against demonstrators participating in protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.

The advocacy group Black Lives Matter, the American Civil Liberties Union and protesters have filed lawsuits in several jurisdictions, including Washington state, Minnesota and Washington, D.C., over the handling of protests by local law enforcement agencies, according to several media outlets.

The protests followed the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in custody of Minneapolis police after now-fired officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while three other officers didn’t intervene.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He remains jailed with bail set at $1.25 million.

The three other officers were also fired and arrested, charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. They all remain jailed with bail set at $1 million each.

In days since Floyd’s Memorial Day death, protests have spread across the nation. Some of the protests have included clashes between protesters and police, fires and other unrest. The vast majority of the protesters across the nation have been “peaceful demonstrators calling for change,” law enforcement officials told ABC News.

Still, there have been incidents. Here’s a look at a few lawsuits that make claims of police misconduct at the protests:

ACLU sues Minnesota state and local law enforcement officials

The ACLU filed a class-action lawsuit against law enforcement officials in Minnesota for “apparently deliberate attacks on journalists” during protests in Minneapolis, according to a news release from the ACLU. The group claims the attacks were a violation of the First Amendment, the ACLU said.

“This pattern and practice of conduct by law enforcement tramples on the Constitution,” the lawsuit says. “It violates the sacrosanct right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press that form the linchpin of a free society.”

Black Lives Matter, protesters sue city of Seattle

Black Lives Matter activists, protesters and a journalist filed suit against the Seattle Police Department, saying its officers used “unnecessary violence” to control and suppress protesters during the city’s demonstrations, The Seattle Times reported. The lawsuit alleges Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best allowed officers to use excessive force, violating protesters’ constitutional rights, according to KIRO 7.

“On an almost nightly basis, the SPD has indiscriminately used excessive force against protesters, legal observers, journalists, and medical personnel,” the lawsuit says, according to the Times

The Seattle Times reported that “the mayor and chief did apologize Sunday for instances in which they said officers may have failed to deescalate tense moments and used disproportionate force.”

D.C. protesters sue President Trump and Attorney General Barr

The Washington D.C. chapter of Black Lives Matter joined protesters, who were “forcibly cleared” from Lafayette Square during demonstrations, in suing President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Defense Secretary Mark Esper for violating the protesters’ constitutional rights, Politico reported. The ACLU is also suing the federal government for its use of force on “no legitimate basis to destroy the peaceable gathering,” a copy of the lawsuit obtained by CNN says.

“This case is about the President and Attorney General of the United States ordering the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators who were speaking out against discriminatory police brutality targeted at Black people,” the lawsuit reads.

On Monday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said “we stand by those actions” of federal law enforcement who forced demonstrators out of Lafayette Square,The Hill reported.

This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Lawsuits pile up across US over police tactics during George Floyd protests."