INDIANAPOLIS — Protesters in Indianapolis were hit with tear gas and other weapons by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department while protesting against police brutality at the end of May, that’s why they’re suing Indianapolis.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the lawsuit to immediately stop the use of chemical agents and projectiles on protesters.

It was filed on behalf of Indy10 Black Lives Matter and individual protesters, saying the use of chemical agents and projectiles for crowd control violate the First Amendment.

They said in recent weeks, IMPD has fired tear gas, pepper balls and other weapons on protesters during many demonstrations following the deaths of Dreasjon Reed and George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“Excessive use of force against protesters chills free speech, and widens the rift of distrust between communities and the police that are sworn to serve them,” said Ken Falk, legal director at the ACLU of Indiana. “Indianapolis should instead listen to demonstrators, build community trust, and transform policing and the criminal legal system.”

ACLU said IMPD officers took violent and unwarranted actions against peaceful protesters who were not engaged in any unlawful activity.

They did not say anything about rioters, just that they’re suing on behalf of protesters.

 

Cover Image by Anna Varsányi from Pixabay