LOS ANGELES — A lawsuit has been filed against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) by Black Lives Matter for the alleged unlawful detainment of thousands of individuals engaged in what the group claims have been peaceful protests.
An LAPD spokesperson issued a statement on the lawsuit, saying the department is invesitgating excessive force accusations, while also adding that police officers have faced assaults and injuries in violent encounters with protesters.
"Protests, marches and demonstrations over the last several days have been often dynamic and at times dangerous situations for both officers and demonstrators," a spokesperson told the Southern California Record. "A number of these gatherings have unfortunately devolved into chaos with rocks, bottles and other projectiles being launched at police officers, who have sustained injuries that range from cuts and bruises to a fractured skull."
The spokesperson said the department also has experienced vehicle and structure fires with widespread looting and destruction while trying to facilitate the First Amendment rights of those peacefully demonstrating.
"We are aware of individuals who have posted videos online and on social media depicting encounters with the police, that they believe constitutes excessive force or misconduct during these demonstrations," the spokesperson said. "We will investigate each instance thoroughly and hold any officer who violates Department policy accountable."
Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, Cangress, Linus Shentu and Weston Rowland filed the lawsuit on June 5 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California - Western Division against Los Angeles, LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore and 10 unnamed individuals.
The class-action lawsuit alleges LAPD detained more than 2,600 individuals who were part of peaceful protests across the city and used excessive force, including rubber bullets and batons, as well as handcuffing them and not confining them in the proper conditions, the complaint states.
The plaintiffs claim the peaceful protests were held after the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. They noted in the complaint this wasn't the first time the LAPD had been accused of using excessive force, citing instances from past protests after the death of Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by a St. Louis police officer in 2014.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop officers from engaging in the unlawful actions, according to the complaint.