George Floyd Protestors Head to Trial Against Police after Federal Court Denies Majority of Sacramento’s Motion for Summary Judgment in Police Brutality Lawsuit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Raya Steier, rsteier@lccrsf.org, C:530-723-2426

***PRESS RELEASE***

Sacramento — On January 24, 2025, a critical pretrial hearing will occur in federal court in Sacramento to finalize preparations for the upcoming trial of six racial justice protesters against the Sacramento Police Department. The four-week jury trial, scheduled to begin on March 10, 2025, follows the federal court’s decision to largely deny the City of Sacramento’s motion for summary judgment in White v. City of Sacramento, clearing the way for the case to proceed. The lawsuit, filed by racial justice protestors who experienced police violence during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and were attacked by both police and far-right protestors during the “Stop the Steal” protests in 2020 and 2021, challenges the Sacramento Police Department’s discriminatory and violent policing tactics.

“The Court has found that the warfare waged by the Sacramento Police Department against racial justice protestors, including through its unfettered use of chemical weapons and kinetic impact munitions, must be scrutinized by a jury. We look forward to holding the City of Sacramento accountable at trial.” said Marissa Hatton, Senior Staff Attorney at Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF).

The plaintiffs allege that the police’s use of excessive, indiscriminate force against protestors was aimed at suppressing peaceful racial justice demonstrations while allowing far-right protests, such as the “Stop the Steal” rally, to proceed without interference, even when far-right  protesters engaged in violence.  

In denying the city’s motion for summary judgment, the court highlighted that the plaintiffs had provided compelling evidence, including body camera footage, for their case to proceed to trial. Specifically, United States District Court Judge John Mendez noted during the hearing that plaintiffs had submitted “overwhelming” evidence in support of their arguments that SPD’s actions were “motivated by a desire to suppress racial justice and anti-police sentiment.”

The evidence in this case shows that the Sacramento Police Department violently discriminated against our clients and other peaceful racial justice protestors because the police disagreed with their message.

“The extreme and discriminatory violence by the Sacramento Police Department has left us with lasting trauma,” said Loren Kidd, a plaintiff in the case. “The First Amendment should not be conditional upon political ideology. We hope this case will shine a light on the City’s failure to protect our constitutional right to protest against white supremacy and police violence, and result in meaningful change to how SPD responds to peaceful protests in the future.”

“We are proud to stand alongside our clients in their pursuit of justice and accountability,” said Aviance Brown, Staff Attorney at Disabilty Law United. “The Court’s ruling ensures that the voices of those who stood up for Black lives and against police brutality will be heard in a court of law.” said Ms. Brown.

Settlement efforts have been unsuccessful. A 20-day jury trial date is set for March 10, 2025, in Sacramento before Judge Mendez.  Plaintiffs will offer their own testimony, extensive videocam footage of unlawful police activity, expert reports showing the inadequacy of SPD’s policies and oversight, and other evidence to support their claim for damages, injunctive relief, and recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs.

The lawsuit was filed by LCCRSF, Disability Law United, and Siegel Yee Brunner & Mehta.

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