You don’t have to be politically involved to be aware of the current ongoing protests taking place worldwide in relation to police brutality and racial injustice. Our city of Charlotte is no exception, as gatherings and marches of protesters have been taking place for weeks. These demonstrations are overwhelming peaceful, featuring citizens simply aiming to make their voices heard and gain the attention of people in power not only in our state, but nationwide.
Despite the primarily peaceful nature of these demonstrations, local protesters have been met with overtly violent and unwarranted retaliation from CMPD. Many peaceful protesters in Charlotte, and around the country, have been met with use of rubber bullets, tear gas and more. North Carolina State Senator Jeff Jackson released a statement detailing the events of the night along with the documented actions of CMPD here.
We are fiercely passionate about defending the constitutional rights of citizens in our community. That’s why our attorney Lauren Newton partnered with other lawyers in representing individuals as well as the Charlotte chapter of the NAACP, the ACLU of North Carolina, Emancipate NC and the Lawyer's Committee For Civil Rights Under Law to file a case against the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to stop the violence and excessive force against peaceful demonstrators that took place on June 2nd, 2020. During the 4-hour Preliminary Injunction hearing attorneys asked Superior Court Judge George Bell to extend an order restricting CMPD’s use of chemical munitions and other tactics against future protests. Find more on the story here.
Freedom to Assemble is a cornerstone of our constitutional rights, and a crucial aspect in the founding of our country. Without ensuring that even the most marginalized members of our society have the ability to safely exercise this right without fear of persecution and physical violence, we lose a fundamental American right that our nation has always been proud to defend.
Check out a comprehensive resource detailing your right to assemble here and find more details of the filed lawsuit here.
When it comes to advocating for your safety and wellbeing in all aspects of life, including while exercising your freedom of speech and right to assemble, we’re here to defend you. Keep up to date on ongoing details of this case and more on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
