#DeRayMckesson was arrested in #BatonRouge, Louisiana in July while protesting the murder of #AltonSterling. He was among nearly 200 protestors that were arrested, in what appeared on periscope, to be unfair targeting. McKesson was charged with obstruction of a highway, however in McKesson’s live stream, you could see that there was no sidewalk, and no obstruction Police officers could also be heard “flagging” DeRay. “You in them loud shoes, if I see you in the road, if I get close to you, you’re going to jail”, an officer yelled. However, DeRay and fellow protestors were not in the road. They were on the shoulder of Airline Hwy in Baton Rouge, not obstructing the highway as police indicated.
On Thursday, McKesson and two others – Gloria La Riva and Kira Marrero (also protestors) filed a federal civil rights suit citing the Baton Rouge were unnecessarily aggressive in arresting them. The 23-page complaint covers arrests over a two day period between July 9 and July 11.
Brittany Packnett, a co-founder with McKesson of the group Campaign Zero, a prominent activist collective previously stated, that DeRay “was clearly targeted. They tackled him. One officer hit the top of his body and another officer the bottom.” The force from sustaining the hits knocked McKesson’s phone completely out of his hand as he was live streamed. The same live stream showed McKesson speaking on the aggressiveness of police. “The police in Baton Rouge have been truly awful tonight. They’ve provoked people. They’ve chased people just for kicks”, McKesson live streamed.
The formal complaint that seeks class action status cites negligence of arrest without probable cause, excessive use of force, conspiracy to deprive protestors their civil rights as well as 16 violations of law by the Baton Rouge police. The protestors were charged with obstruction of a highway- charges that were later dropped, but not before the protestors had to pay administrative costs and court fees. The complaint is seeking that all criminal arrest records be expunged and unspecified damages.
According to Huff Post, the East Baton Rouge Parish Attorney’s office had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.
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