Two of the lawsuits against the city of Graham, Graham Police Chief Kristy Cole and Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson have merged.
The suits were both filed on Nov. 2 after officers with the Graham Police Department and sheriff's office used pepper spray during the "I am Change" march to the polls held Oct. 31.
The first lawsuit was filed on behalf of Future Alamance, Sylvester Allen Jr, Dejuana Bigelow and Tabatha Davis. The second lawsuit was filed by Rev. Gregory Drumwright, the lead organizer of the march, in addition to Edith Ann Jones and Justice for the Next Generation.
On Dec. 4, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina ruled that the cases should be consolidated. Both lawsuits stemmed from the same event, and the court ruled they examine a "common question of law."