Remember when Donald Trump took a walk from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church to pose for a picture with a Bible? Well, to get to the church, he dispersed protesters from the area with tear gas and projectiles. Now, as a result, his little stunt has gotten him, and his administration sued.
Thursday, the Washington, D.C., chapter of Black Lives Matter filed a suit in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union against Trump and his administration. The lawsuit alleges the administration violated the organization’s civil and constitutional rights. Monday, during the group’s peaceful protest, they were forced out of Lafayette Square by U.S. Park Police, and the National Guard, who used horses, projectiles, and gas. Journalists and protesters were gathered in the square to demonstrate peacefully against police violence in the wake of George Floyd’s death, NBC News reports.
BLM and ACLU are asking for a jury trial in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia. Their suit alleges that the administration violated their First and Fourth Amendment rights, which protect the right to protest and protect against unreasonable search and seizure. Both parties of the suit claim authorities shot flash-bang shells, tear gas, smoke canisters, pepper balls, and rubber bullets into the crowd.
Out of all the devices used, the U.S. Park Police has disputed the use of tear gas.
“The conspiracy targeted Plaintiffs’ protected First Amendment activities because Defendants held animus towards Plaintiffs’ viewpoints,” the lawsuit said. “The violent actions of the conspirators directly and unlawfully interfered with these activities.” The suit also claims that the administration conspired to deprive them of their civil rights and protections.
The groups are also asking for a judge to grant relief by issuing an injunction to stop the administration from continuing to use force against protesters.
According to NBC News, Attorney General William Barr, who is named in the lawsuit, defended the use of force on the protesters Thursday. Barr alleged that the administration was provoked by increasing violence. “On Monday, we were still facing very large demonstrations that were belligerent and throwing projectiles,” Barr said, adding that “it’s very important to use sufficient forces, law enforcement, to establish law and order in a city when you have riots running. If you use insufficient resources, it’s dangerous for everybody.”
However, multiple news outlets in attendance on Monday disputed these claims and said protesters were in the park for hours without any incidents.
“Defendants’ actions to shut down the Lafayette Square demonstration is the manifestation of the very despotism against which the First Amendment was intended to protect,” the suit said.
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