Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson is suing Baton Rouge over his arrest during a Black Lives Matter protest following the death of Alton Sterling last month. Mckesson was arrested on July 9 alongside over 100 other protestors who were jailed between July 6 and 11.
In a class-action lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court, Mckesson and two other named plaintiffs — Kira Marrero and Gloria La Riva — claim that Baton Rouge police officers violated their civil rights and used excessive force.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for “unlawful mass arrests and prosecutions under constitutionally dubious statutes, regulations, policies and practices by the Baton Rouge Police Department, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana State Police.” Their complaint alleges that police “employed unconstitutional tactics to disturb, disrupt, infringe upon and criminalize plaintiffs and class members’ constitutional rights to freedom of speech and assembly.”
Listed causes of action against Baton Rouge include federal counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law, conspiracy to deprive plaintiffs of civil rights, use of excessive force, arrest without probable cause, violation of first amendment rights, retaliation against exercise of freedom of speech and assembly, inadequate prison conditions, and excessive bond. The plaintiffs are also bringing eight counts against the defendants under Louisiana law, including false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit seeks to reimburse protestors for their lost wages, expenses incurred to post bond, administrative fees and expenses, court costs, criminal defense attorney fees, and other monetary damages incurred because of the arrests.
(Via Baltimore Sun)