A coalition of attorneys filed a lawsuit against the NYPD on Thursday over the department’s handling of the George Floyd protests — in an attempt to change the “violent protest policing tactics” that led to hundreds of “unconstitutional” and “brutal” arrests.
The lengthy lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks class-action status to sue on behalf of all those who experienced the “extensive deprivation of constitutional rights during the 2020 protests.”
“The NYPD response to the protests in New York City in May and June 2020 was in line with its history of violent and unconstitutional responses to those as other past protests in New York City,” the suit reads.
Gideon Oliver, one of the attorneys who brought the lawsuit, said the NYPD “repeatedly and unapologetically deployed some of the most brutal and repressive protest policing tactics” during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations this summer over their calls for reform.
“And, day in and day out, Mayor [Bill] de Blasio has denied the brutal reality and done nothing to force NYPD transparency or accountability,” he added.
The court filing looks to change the NYPD policies and training that have cost taxpayers millions in payouts in the last two decades — and compares the recent police response to the 2004 RNC protests that led to more than $36 million in settlement payouts.
Chief of Department Terence Monahan was panned — and praised — for his handling of the 2020 protests, specifically the Mott Haven response, which was decried by Human Rights Watch as “a violation of international human rights” and possibly US civil rights. He also was in charge of the 2004 demonstrations.
The federal filing, which also names Police Commissioner Dermot Shea and de Blasio, comes a week after New York state Attorney General Letitia James filed a similar lawsuit against the NYPD, its leaders and the mayor.
“The reason we feel compelled to go forward with our own case … [is] the community should have a voice in whatever happens,” said attorney Jonathan Moore.
Moore added that the lawsuit could be combined with the AG’s suit down the line.
Another attorney, David Rankin, added, “There will be on ramps in having the community involved going forward.”
The NYPD did not immediately respond for comment.