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For Immediate Release
July, 11 2016, 01:00pm EDT
Contact:
Marjorie Esman, ACLU of Louisiana, 504-522-0628, mesman@laaclu.org
Allison Steinberg, ACLU, 212-549-2540, asteinberg@aclu.org
ACLU of Louisiana Responds to Police Misconduct and Excessive Use of Force at Baton Rouge Protests
BATON ROUGE, La.
Eyewitness accounts at demonstrations taking place in Baton Rouge and surrounding cities following the shooting of Alton Sterling brought to light the militarization of and illegal use of force by police on protesters.
American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman commented:
"The Baton Rouge police used violent, militarized tactics on groups of people who have gathered peacefully in protest of Alton Sterling's killing. We were on the scene and witnessed police in full riot gear with assault rifles while individuals were exercising their lawful rights and posed no threat. The police lunged and grabbed at peacefully assembled people and threw them to the ground. Such misconduct violates the constitution and is serving to escalate an environment already filled with tension.
"We depend on the police to protect and serve everyone in our communities, to treat people fairly, to use violence only as the very last resort. But the Baton Rouge police have failed us. They failed when they encountered Alton Sterling. They failed when they lashed out at people protesting in peace.
"The ACLU stands with the protesters in Baton Rouge and urges the police to honor our constitutional rights instead of stomping on them."
Please send reports or video of inappropriate police conduct to: batonrouge@laaclu.org
Press Release can be found at: https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu-louisiana-responds-police-misconduct-and-excessive-use-force-baton-rouge-protests
The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
(212) 549-2666LATEST NEWS
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