Representatives of social justice organizations and individuals announced a civil rights class-action lawsuit Thursday against the City of Oakland in the wake of police violence during protests May 29 and June 3.
During the protests, Oakland police and other law enforcement agencies used tear gas, rubber bullets, flashbang grenades and other “nonlethal” weapons against students who marched into the downtown area and people protesting near police department headquarters.
“Despite almost 20 years of federal court oversight and several settlement agreements, the Oakland police continue to violate the rights of peaceful protestors, particularly African Americans and other ,” said civil rights attorney Walter Riley.
National Lawyers Guild (NLG) members Riley and Dan Siegel of Siegel, Yee, Brunner & Mehta are lead counsel in the case, filed in federal court.
“We are seeking relief in the courts, but we demand that the mayor and City Council finally take the steps necessary to create a police department whose leaders and officers are held strictly accountable for violations of people’s rights,” said Riley.
