As support across the country for anti-police protests continues to dwindle, the city of Detroit has decided to sue activists suspected of being part of Black Lives Matter, claiming that the protests “have repeatedly turned violent, endangering the lives of police and the public.” The lawsuit is alleging that BLM activists participated in a “civil conspiracy” by defaming the police and the mayor. It contends that due to the destruction, the city should be awarded damages by the organization.
The lawsuit began with activists in Detroit suing the city, alleging that the city’s Police force “repeatedly responded with violence,” and provided pictures of injuries they claimed were from Detroit Police Officers using “tools of excessive force.” The ‘protesters’ asked a federal judge to restrict the use of sound cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas. The court decided to issue temporary orders restricting the police department’s use of force.
Following these accusations, the city of Detroit filed an official response which included denials of all of the activist’s accusations and filed the lawsuit against the movement.
According to the lawsuit, the activists were involved in the civil conspiracy “to disturb the peace, engage in disorderly conduct, incite riots, and destroy public property.” The City outlines four specific protests that police officers were injured in. Those injuries are said to have been “cracked vertebrae, lacerations, and concussions.”
