On
August 9, 2001, a major lawsuit was been filed against the Los Angeles
Police Department concerning police
abuses during the Democratic National Convention and October 22nd
demonstration
against police abuse. Specifically, the lawsuit challenges the
following
LAPD policies: (1) improperly terminating or prohibiting lawfully
permitted
political demonstrations without good reason; (2) using excessive force
against people engaged in protected expression who pose no threat of
harm
including but not limited to the use of “rubber bullets,”
bean-bag
guns, pepper spray, baton strikes, and other so-called
“non-lethal”
force, which are nevertheless used by Defendants in a potentially
lethal
manner; (3) preventing people from entering or exiting permitted
marches
and rallies; and (4) preventing those engaged in political
demonstrations
from being heard, by circling immediately above them with low-flying
helicopters.
Plaintiffs
in
the lawsuit are the National Lawyers Guild, Los Angeles Chapter; the
Los
Angeles Coalition to Stop the Execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Los
Angeles
Chapter of the October 22nd Coalition, and the D2K Convention Planning
Coalition.
The
plaintiffs
are represented by Daniel Tokaji, of the ACLU of Southern California,
Carol
Sobel, NLG officer and ACLU/SC Cooperating Attorney, Robert Myers, NLG
Officer with the firm Newman. Aaronson. Vanaman., Prof. Karl Manheim,
of
Loyola Law School, and Paul L. Hoffman, of Schonbrun, Desimone, Seplow,
Harris & Hoffman.
On
December 2, 2003, the United States District Court denied the City's
motion for summary judgment. To read the decision, click here.
The
following
information is available on the lawsuit:
1. Complaint filed in United States District Court.
Wordperfect
8.0 format.
HTML
format.
2. NLG Press
Statement.
Statement
of Los Angeles Coalition to Stop the Execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
3.
Legal
observer shot in the ear by LAPD on August 14, 2001.
4.
Independent
journalist shot in arm by LAPD on August 14, 2001.
5.
Legal
observer shot in shoulder by LAPD on August 14, 2001.
6.
Legal
observer shot between the eyes by LAPD on August 14, 2001.
