Screenshot from CLDC March 8 federal filing
The July 29 Thurston neighborhood clash between Black Lives Matter-related protesters, police and counter-protesters continues. This time in federal court.
On March 8, the Civil Liberties Defense Center and Black Unity protesters filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Springfield, the police department and several other named and unnamed officers.
The lawsuit divulges new information about police interaction with counter-protesters and Thurston-area residents, and that police engaged in aggressive and racist tactics against protesters. It argues police violated protesters’ rights under the First, Fourth and 14th Amendments.
On July 29, the group Black Unity had organized a march in the Thurston neighborhood of Springfield in response to a Black resident of the area sharing a photo of her neighbor’s yard, which had a noose. Although neighbors said in a Dec. 10 forum with investigator Rick Braziel that the noose was a year-round Halloween decoration, the lawsuit said there was also a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, this flag is one of the symbols of the right-wing militia movement.