Protests and Civil Unrest – What Happens When Police Abuse Their Power?

Civil unrest across the country has been boiling for months, ever since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Protests have raged in major cities throughout the United States, including here in New York. Unfortunately, this has led to many incidents of police misconduct, misuse of force, and allegations of unlawful arrests. This is a major concern to civil and human rights activists and attorneys. Here, we want to examine some recent examples of unrest in New York as well as let you know where you can turn in the event you believe your civil or human rights have been violated by the New York Police Department.

There have been many reports of police misuse of force

The death of George Floyd has sparked some of the largest civil rights protests in decades in the US. That is why it is somewhat ironic that there have been so many documented abuses of police power – this is the exact type of behavior that people are protesting against.

A black woman was arrested by NYPD officers in an unmarked police vehicle, in what many observers have compared to a kidnapping, not an arrest. The event has made the national news. Unfortunately, most people were not surprised. Though the protestor has since been released, this is only a pattern of questionable behavior by the NYPD over the last few months. In fact, the NYPD has defended their tactics in this arrest.

There have been dozens, if not hundreds, of videos posted on social media of NYPD officers using force against protestors. In many cases, the protestors who have been subjected to this behavior were protesting peacefully and legally.

You have the right to protest

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has released a list of your rights as a protestor. Here is a brief description of what you need to know before you head out to peacefully protest:

·        You almost always have the right to protest in areas considered “traditional public forums.” That generally includes sidewalks, public parks, and even the streets. You are also allowed to protest in front of government buildings or property, so long as you are not impeding the access of any official government business.

·        Private property owners can set the rules for speech on their property. If you are on private property with the consent of the property owner, government officials (police officers) cannot restrict your speech.

·        Remember that counter-protestors have rights as well, and in many cases, you may be seen as the counter-protestor. Counter-protestors generally have the same rights as any protestor.

·        Police are allowed to separate counter-protesters, but protestors should be allowed to remain within sight and sound of those they are protesting against.

·        Protestors can take photographs or video of anything in plain sight when on public property. Private property owners can set the rules for taking photos or videos on their property.

You have rights and can seek compensation

In some cases, violations of civil and human rights may very well lead to people being prosecuted criminally – even the police. As we have seen throughout the country, municipalities and states are stepping up and charging their own officials for these violations.

However, if your human or civil rights have been violated, you may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the perpetrators. At the Law Office of Rachel Ambats, PLLC, we may be able to help you secure the following in these situations:

·        Coverage of any medical bills you incur

·        Compensation for pain and suffering and mental anguish

·        Possible punitive damages against the alleged perpetrator and/or the agency they work for

Contact a civil and humans rights attorney for help

If you or somebody you love has been harmed or believe that your civil or human rights have been violated by the NYPD, contact an attorney immediately. At the Law Office of Rachel Ambats, PLLC, you can count on having an attorney by your side who believes in standing up for your rights. In these instances, you could be entitled to various types of compensation, including coverage of any medical bills you incur, pain and suffering damages, emotional distress damages, and possible punitive damages against the NYPD.

When you need a New York City civil or human rights attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation.