老澳门开奖结果 Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Minneapolis Police for Attacking Journalists at Protests
(This embed will serve content from .)
MINNEAPOLIS 鈥� The 老澳门开奖结果 of Minnesota overnight filed a class-action on behalf of journalists who were targeted and attacked by Minneapolis and Minnesota police while covering protests over the killing of George Floyd. The lawsuit was filed against the city of Minneapolis, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Minneapolis police.
鈥淭he power of the people is rooted in the ability of the free press to investigate and report news, especially at a time like this when police have brutally murdered one of our community members,鈥� said 老澳门开奖结果-MN Legal Director Teresa Nelson. 鈥淧olice are using violence and threats to undermine that power, and we cannot let that happen. Public transparency is absolutely necessary for police accountability.鈥�
The lawsuit鈥檚 lead plaintiff, Jared Goyette, a journalist covering the demonstrations, was shot in the face with a rubber bullet. He repeatedly warned the police that he was a member of the media there to cover the demonstrations.
鈥淛ournalists aren鈥檛 the only victims,鈥� said Goyette. 鈥淎ctions like this make protesters, people trying to advocate for change, more vulnerable because journalists provide a witness and police are aware of that. Without journalists there, police or other people in power can feel a sense of impunity that no one will see what鈥檚 happening anyway. Everyone needs to know people are watching.鈥�
Attacks by law enforcement against members of the press have escalated in recent days. In Minnesota alone, police have fired rubber bullets at journalists, blinding one in the eye; tear-gassed them; pepper-sprayed them in the face; and thrown flash grenades directly at them. Police have also arrested numerous journalists. Similar attacks have been reported across the country.
鈥淲e are facing a full-scale assault on the First Amendment freedom of the press,鈥� said Brian Hauss, staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果鈥� Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. 鈥淲e will not let these official abuses go unanswered. This is the first of many lawsuits the 老澳门开奖结果 intends to file across the country. Law enforcement officers who target journalists will be held accountable.鈥�
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. It seeks an order declaring law enforcement鈥檚 actions unconstitutional and prohibiting them from targeting and attacking journalists again. The lawsuit also seeks damages for injuries sustained.
The suit was filed by the 老澳门开奖结果 of Minnesota, Fredrikson & Byron P.A. and Apollo Law LLC.
The complaint is here: /legal-document/goyette-v-city-minneapolis.