I 'F---Ed Everybody Up:' Body Camera Footage Gives New Glimpse Into Detroit Police Protest Response
Detroit police officers urged one another to turn off their body-worn cameras as they moved in on a crowd of demonstrators last summer and pepper sprayed and shoved protesters even as they appeared to follow orders, newly released footage from a handful of summer clashes between the department and activist group Detroit Will Breathe shows.
The 22-minute video released by the group, which protested almost nightly following the killing of George Floyd, often without incident, includes footage from about ten officers' body-worn cameras interspersed with bystander footage and official statements from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and then-Chief James Craig.
"The city has maintained a public narrative of openness to free speech that has not matched the actions of its police force as witnessed by protest participants," said attorney Jack Schulz, who represents the group in a federal lawsuit against the city and police department over the tactics used last summer. "The footage represents a more accurate look at DPDs treatment of those who exercised their First Amendment rights against police abuse last summer.
"The footage of the actual events shows that officers sought to maximize punishment and, in some cases, officers experienced a sick joy out of inflicting both physical and mental damage on citizens."
Read more: https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/28340/i_f---ed_everybody_up_body_camera_footage_gives_new_glimpse_into_detroit_police_protest_response