Welcome to the weekly update from the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity! Here, we give you a wrap-up of the latest developments and notable news as we continue our state-focused fight to abolish the unjust rule.
This week, a federal judge upholds Arizonans’ constitutional right to film cops; a Black Chicago officer fights racist policing; legal experts question Washington’s police surveillance tactics; and more!
FEATURED STORY
The Hill: Federal Judge Strikes Down Arizona Law Limiting Recording of Police as Unconstitutional
“U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi cited infringement against a clear right for citizens to film police while doing their jobs in his ruling. ‘The law prohibits or chills a substantial amount of First Amendment protected activity and is unnecessary to prevent interference with police officers given other Arizona laws in effect,’ Tuchi wrote.”
Read more here.
NEW YORK
The NYPD’s brutal treatment of everyday citizens protesting George Floyd’s murder led to a class-action suit resulting in a staggering $13 million settlement. The legal team behind this effort was able to secure their win thanks to a video-categorization tool that analyzes bodycam footage.
Read more here.
While New York City reached a historic settlement with Black Lives Matter activists injured by the NYPD during 2020’s racial justice protests, a similar police brutality lawsuit across the state in Rochester has been stuck in mediation since late last year.
Read more here.
VERMONT
Interracial couple Cassandra Keating and Joel Fowler are suing the town of Bennington, alleging that they were constantly harassed by local police due to their relationship. “Primarily, we’re very interested in a court ruling that would prohibit other municipalities from essentially doxxing individuals who make complaints about police misconduct,” said the ACLU of Vermont’s legal director.
Read more here.
ILLINOIS
Chicago police officer Renault Robinson, who headed the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League, spoke out against a group of cops who brutalized a Black man and were never held accountable. After spending his career bringing attention to discrimination against Black police officers and advocating for police reform, Robinson was met with retaliation from his department.
Read more here.
Marilyn Mulero spent years on death row for a murder she didn’t commit. Finally exonerated, Mulero is seeking damages from the Chicago Police Department, calling out the corrupt detectives who landed her—and nearly 40 other innocent people—in prison.
Read more here.
ADDITIONAL NEWS
Crosscut: Federal Aid Is Supercharging Local WA Police Surveillance Tech
“Police credit new technology with helping solve crimes amid heightened public safety concerns, but on the local level these technologies often roll out with little oversight, leaving departments to decide for themselves, for example, if they want to use the data to assist with immigration enforcement or share data with states where seeking an abortion is a crime.”
Read more here.
CNN: ‘They’re Trying to Kill Me’: 911 Calls Capture Unarmed Black Man’s Comments Before Being Attacked by Police K-9
“[Jadarrius] Rose’s attorney declined to comment, but the president of the NAACP’s Columbus Branch Nana Watson called the officer’s actions ‘barbaric,’ adding they elicited ‘horrible memories and images of the unleashing of dogs on civil (rights) activists that occurred in the South during the 1960’s.’”
Read more here.
The Root: That’s How You Feel? Sacramento Officers Called Group of Black Boys a “Pack of Animals”
“The public is only now learning about a 2020 incident in which two Sacramento cops were eventually disciplined for using racist language while they improperly detained a group of Black boys while on duty….Although the altercation took place three years ago and the disciplinary action two years ago, the city’s police department only disclosed the incident on its web site this month.”
Read more here.
Reason: Kansas Cops Have ‘Waged War on Motorists’ by Subjecting Them to Pretextual Traffic Stops, a Federal Judge Says
“‘This is a huge win—for our clients and for anyone else who travels on Kansas highways,’ said Sharon Brett, legal director of the ACLU of Kansas. ‘Today’s decision validates that motorists’ constitutional rights cannot be cast aside under the guise of a ‘war on drugs.’ It also demonstrates that courts will not tolerate the cowboy mentality of policing that subjects our citizens to conditions of humiliation, degradation, and, in some tragic cases, violence.’”
Read more here.
Daily Beast: Memphis ‘Cop of the Year’ Says Nashville PD Ditched Him for Having HIV
“He helped catch a killer, has been decorated for heroism, and volunteered for one of Memphis’ most challenging assignments. His doctor describes his health as ‘great,’ and says he does not pose ‘any threat to co-workers or members of the community.’ Still, Nashville city officials [falsely] claim—amid an acute staffing shortage—that the officer is a danger to the public.”
Read more here.
Spread the word for accountability—submit a letter to the editor to your local newspaper.
Stay atop of new state QI updates by signing up for our email list here.