Four Denver residents filed a lawsuit against the city Thursday afternoon, demanding that Denver police be barred from using tear gas and other non-lethal weapons against people participating in the George Floyd protests.
The class action complaint claims that police actions, including the use of tear gas and pepper ball projectiles, by officers in hundreds of incidents is “without regard to the constitutional rights of protesters and bystanders.” The plaintiffs are asking a Denver District Court judge to impose an injunction, banning the weapons’ use immediately.
“Officers have simply used these weapons to assert and show their dominance over protesters and the citizens of Denver and Colorado,” the lawsuit claims.
Police have targeted citizens, journalists and medics seeking to aid those harmed by the devices, according to the complaint filed by Denver attorney Milo Schwab.
“This pattern and practice of conduct by Denver police tramples on the Constitution,” the lawsuit said.
The 25-page legal action asks the court to “restrain” the city of Denver from “further violence and unconstitutional conduct.”