Black Unity Et Al v. City of Springfield Et Al

Case 6:21-cv-00346-AA Document 1 Filed 03/08/21 Page 1 of 50
Lauren C. Regan, OSB # 970878

Email: [email protected]
Marianne Dugan, OSB # 932563
Sarah Alvarez, OSB # 182999
CIVIL LIBERTIES DEFENSE CENTER
1430 Willamette Street, #359
Eugene, OR 97402
Telephone: 541.687.9180
Fax: 541.804.7391
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
EUGENE DIVISION
BLACK UNITY; MARTIN ALLUMS; Case No. 6:21-cv-346

TYSHAWN FORD; AUSTIN JOHNS; and
MYA LANSING, COMPLAINT
Civil Rights and Conspiracy --
Plaintiffs, 42 U.S.C. Sections 1983, 1985, and
1986
v.
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, a municipal corporation; REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL

CHIEF RICHARD L. LEWIS; LT GEORGE
CROLLY # 307; LT MATTHEW NEIWART; LT
TOM RAPPE; SGT DAVID GRICE; SGT PETE
KIRKPATRICK; SGT KEITH SEANOR # 297; A.A.
AMUNDSON # 343; T.J. BAZER # 390; B.K. BRAGG
# 380; JOSEPH BURKE # 365; DANIEL CASAREZ
# 215; R.J. CONRAD # 286; B.P. DUNN # 205;
BRONSON DURRANT # 382; J. GARCIA-CASH
# 397; T.J. MURRAY # 398; J.J. MYERS # 355; C.J.
O'LEARY # 395; JARED QUINONES # 363; R.A.
ROSALES # 225; E.A. SORBY # 376; M.J. THOMSEN
# 310; L.E. TURNER # 328; J.M. WILSON # 344;
DETECTIVE ROBERT WEAVER # 4854; and JOHN DOE,
in their individual capacities,
Defendants.

Page 1 -- COMPLAINT
PLAINTIFFS, by and through their attorneys, CIVIL LIBERTIES DEFENSE CENTER,
for their Complaint against Defendants, allege as follows.
INTRODUCTION
A. The Ku Klux Klan Act, Now Known as the Civil Rights Act of 1871
1. This is a civil rights action arising under Title 42 of the United States Code,
Sections 1983, 1985, and 1986. Plaintiffs bring this action for damages against Defendants for
violating their First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights on July 29, 2020, in the Thurston
area of Springfield, Oregon.
2. On April 20, 1871, Congress enacted the "Ku Klux Klan Act," now known as the
Civil Rights Act of 1871, to support and enforce the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution
(ratified in 1868), which purported to guarantee the full rights of citizenship to the recently-freed
slaves.
3. The 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, the end of slavery, and dissolution of the
Ku Klux Klan around that time proved to be insufficient to bring an end to discrimination,
vigilantism, and other forms of violence by the ingrained white supremacist system against
newly freed Black people; and the remnants of the Union forces and understaffed Freedmen’s
Bureaus were inadequate to protect Black people from white terrorist organizations.
4. Slave patrols were an early form of policing in the United States. According to
historian Gary Potter, slave patrols served three main functions: “(1) to chase down, apprehend,
and return to their owners, runaway slaves; (2) to provide a form of organized terror to deter

Page 2 -- COMPLAINT
slave revolts; and, (3) to maintain a form of discipline for slave-workers who were subject to
summary justice, outside the law.”1
5. Racial profiling of African Americans, including their deliberate murder, has
given rise to organizations like the Black Lives Matter Movement. However, tensions between
the Black community and police extend to the very beginning of organized policing in 1704. One
could argue the reasons for the tension; nevertheless, the one consistent recurring and logical
reason would be the system of racism and White Supremacy in the U.S.
6. Closing in on the 150-year anniversary of the Civil Rights Act/Ku Klux Klan Act,
the Act has now been expanded to recognize a cause of action for constitutional violations that
are not race-based. But that central and original purpose of the Act -- protection of Black people
from racial violence and intimidation -- has not lost its importance. White supremacist
vigilantism and other forms of terrorism are not only still with us as a nation, but have increased
in recent years, and are "on the rise and spreading" according to the U.S. State Department.2
7. “The Proud Boys," "Patriot Front,” and other white supremacist/neo-Nazi/racist
groups3 have terrorized and harassed Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and
progressive activists both in Oregon and throughout the United States, with increasing virulence
and violence, recently taking over the capitol buildings in both Oregon and Washington D.C.4
8. Section 1 of the Ku Klux Klan Act became 42 U.S.C. 1983, the best-known
provision of the law, cited almost daily throughout the country in lawsuits claiming police
1
Gary Potter, The History of Policing in the United States, EKU School of Justice
Studies. https://plsonline.eku.edu/sites/plsonline.eku.edu/files/the-history-of-policing-in-us.pdf.
2
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/06/25/white-supremacist-terrorism-on-the-
rise-and-spreading/?sh=5e1e5f8e5a0f.
3
https://www.splcenter.org/states/oregon
4
See, e.g., https://www.wweek.com/news/2021/01/06/were-not-going-home-proud-boys-and-
pro-trump-protesters-fight-leftists-and-police-outside-oregon-capitol/.

Page 3 -- COMPLAINT
excessive force, false arrest, and other misconduct. Under Section 1983, the plaintiff need not be
a member of a particular race or identifiable class of people.
9. Other sections of the Act became 42 U.S.C. 1985 and 1986. Section 1985
provides a civil cause of action against forces or individuals who conspire to deprive someone of
their constitutional rights. Since its enactment, the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted Section
1985 to apply to both public and private actors, where the conspiracy targets a certain race or
identifiable class of people.
10. Section 1986 provides a civil cause of action against anyone who, having
knowledge that a Section 1985 conspiracy is about to be committed, and having power to prevent
or aid in preventing that harm, neglects or refuses so to do.
11. All three of these statutes apply to the events alleged in this complaint. In
addition to the more common Section 1983 police misconduct (excessive force, false arrest, and
interference with First Amendment activity), Plaintiffs allege that the named Defendants
conspired to deprive them of their constitutional rights, and failed to prevent those harms, based
upon Plaintiffs' 1) race; 2) support of Black rights and Black lives; 3) statements critical of the
police and the criminal punishment system that is in place in this country and locally; and/or 4)
First Amendment activity and status as Black Unity and Black Lives Matter marchers/protesters.
B. 2020 Actions in Support of the Movement for Black Lives
12. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African-American, was murdered by a
Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Mr. Floyd's neck for eight minutes and
forty-six seconds. During that time, at least four other officers stood around and watched as Mr.
Floyd begged for his life and cried out for his mom. Mr. Floyd’s last words were, “Please,
please, please, I can’t breathe.”

Page 4 -- COMPLAINT
13. Several weeks before Mr. Floyd was killed by police, Breonna Taylor, a
Louisville, Kentucky, EMT (also African-American), was shot dead by plain-clothes police who
broke into her home to execute a no-knock warrant.
14. The killing of Mr. Floyd and Ms. Taylor, among scores of other Black people
killed by police in recent times, unleashed a torrent of anger and frustration from people across
the United States and the world. Millions have protested and demonstrated, calling for an end to
white supremacy and the legal, social, political, and economic institutions that uphold and
benefit from systemic racism, as well as calling for an end to State violence against all people.
15. During 2020, demonstrations took place throughout the United States for weeks
and months, often met by violent assaults by police and right-wing mobs and individuals.
16. Like most cities in the U.S., the Eugene-Springfield area was home to several
protests and demonstrations in the days, weeks, and months after Mr. Floyd was murdered by
police.
17. In response to these gatherings, the Springfield Police Department (SPD), like
many police departments around the U.S., took steps to restrict and stifle the First Amendment
rights of protesters critical of police, with its officers often expressing animus against those First
Amendment activities and beliefs, which are inextricably linked to race and race-related violence
at the hands of law enforcement.
18. On July 29, 2020, members of the SPD, including Defendants, engaged in several
unconstitutional actions to punish, prevent, or chill Plaintiffs' First Amendment activities. These
actions included unlawful detention, colluding with and informing violent counter-protestors
about Plaintiff’s plans; encouraging, alerting, and conspiring with violent counter-protestors to
amass and use force against Plaintiffs; roadblocks that prevented a lawful protest march;

Page 5 -- COMPLAINT
unconstitutional uses of force and threats of force; unconstitutional arrests and threats of arrest;
and allowing violent counter-demonstrators to attack, threaten, harass, intimidate, or otherwise
engage in unlawful actions against protestors, including Plaintiffs. Defendants failed to provide
equal protection under the law to protestors, including Plaintiffs, based on their viewpoints or
perceived viewpoints, as well as the status of some of them as people of color and their support
of the movement for Black lives. Defendants allowed counter-demonstrators to engage in violent
acts against protestors, including Plaintiffs, and by permitting such violence, encouraged and
emboldened the attacks against Plaintiffs.
19. Further, this was not the only time SPD and Defendants had engaged in
unconstitutional actions to prevent and chill Plaintiff’s first amendment activities by preventing
and blocking Plaintiffs from lawfully marching in public forums. SPD took similar actions on
June 26, 2020, when Plaintiffs marched in the Thurston neighborhood, and later that same
evening, in downtown Springfield.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
20. This civil action arises under the Constitution and laws of the United States (42
U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985, and 1986), and this Court therefore has subject matter jurisdiction
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1342(a).
21. Venue is properly vested in the Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), because
the actions giving rise to this complaint took place in the City of Eugene, Oregon, which is in
this District, and Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this District.

Page 6 -- COMPLAINT
PARTIES
22. Plaintiff Black Unity (BU) is a domestic nonprofit corporation, whose principal
place of business is Lane County, Oregon. At the time of the events described herein, Black
Unity was an unincorporated association. Black Unity and its members are primarily engaged in
advocating for racial justice. Black Unity seeks equal treatment of Black lives through
education, awareness and policy change, and strives for equal opportunities for Black lives
through protest, engagement and abolition. Black Unity provides support, resources, safety and
community service to the Black community.
23. Plaintiff Martin Allums was, at the time of filing and all relevant times, a resident
of Lane County, Oregon, and a member of Black Unity. Mr. Allums identifies as a BIPOC
(Black, Indigenous, Person of Color,5) person.
24. Plaintiff Tyshawn Ford was, at the time of filing and all relevant times, a resident
of Lane County, Oregon, and a member of Black Unity. Mr. Ford identifies as a BIPOC person.
25. Plaintiff Mya Lansing was, at the time of filing and all relevant times, a resident
of Lane County, Oregon. Ms. Lansing identifies as a BIPOC person.
26. Plaintiff Austin Johns was, at the time of filing and all relevant times, a resident
of Lane County, Oregon.
27. Defendant City of Springfield is a political subdivision of the State of Oregon.
The Springfield Police Department is a department or division of the City. Upon information and
belief, each of the individual Defendants was an agent or employee of the City of Springfield at
the time of the events described herein.
5
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/BIPOC

Page 7 -- COMPLAINT
28. Defendant Richard L. Lewis is the chief of SPD and, was at all relevant times,
employed by SPD.
29. Defendants Lieutenants George Crolly, Matthew Neiwart, and Tom Rappe are,
and were at all relevant times, police lieutenants employed by SPD.
30. Defendants Sergeants David Grice, Pete Kirkpatrick, and Keith Seanor, are, and
were at all relevant times, police sergeants employed by SPD.
31. Defendants A.A. Amundson, T.J. Bazer, B.K. Bragg, J.N. Burke, Daniel Casarez,
R.J. Conrad, B.P. Dunn, Bronson Durrant, J. Garcia-Cash, T.J. Murray, J.J. Myers, C.J. O'Leary,
Jared Quinones, R.A. Rosales, E.A. Sorby, M.J. Thomsen, L.E. Turner, and J.M. Wilson are, and
were at all relevant times, police officers employed by SPD.
32. Defendant Detective Weaver is, and was at all relevant times, a police detective
employed by SPD.
33. Defendant John Doe is an unidentified sworn law enforcement officer who
assaulted and used excessive force against plaintiff Martin Allums. Plaintiffs do not currently
know the true name of Defendant John Doe, and therefore initiate this suit against Defendant
John Doe by use of a fictitious name. Plaintiffs will amend this complaint to allege his or her true
name when ascertained.
34. In doing the acts and/or omissions alleged herein, Defendants, and each of them,
acted within the course and scope of their employment.
acted under color of authority and/or under color of law.
acted as the agent, servant, or employee, and/or in concert with, each of the other Defendants.

Page 8 -- COMPLAINT
BACKGROUND
37. On July 29, 2020, Plaintiff Black Unity organized a peaceful protest in the
Thurston area of Springfield, Oregon.
38. In addition to the ongoing protests in the wake of nationwide protests against
police brutality and systemic racism, Black Unity specifically sought to protest a noose hanging
in a tree at Bluebelle Way in Springfield.
39. A Black resident of the Thurston Hills neighborhood reasonably felt threatened by
the noose in her neighbor’s yard, given the historical racist and violent usage of nooses to
intimidate Black people.6
40. The significance, to a Black person, of seeing a noose in their neighbor's yard, is
particularly acute in a state like Oregon, whose racist roots have been spotlighted in the past few
years.7
41. At that time, the home with the noose also displayed a Gadsen Flag (the "Don't
Tread on Me" flag), which has increasingly been associated with racist and anti-government
beliefs.8
Officer Burke's One-Hour Encounter with a Black Unity Organizer July 28, 2020
42. On July 28, 2020, one day before the protest, the Black woman from the Thurston
Hills who felt threatened by the noose hanging from her neighbors’ tree (along with a "Don't
Tread on Me" flag) asked for support and counsel from her friend, a female Black Unity
6
See https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/us/noose-hate-symbol-racism-trnd/index.html;
https://www.adl.org/education/educator-resources/lesson-plans/noose-incidents-and-their-
historical-context.
7
See, e.g., https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-white-history-racist-foundations-black-
exclusion-laws/.
8
See https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-shifting-symbolism-of-the-gadsden-flag;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag.

Page 9 -- COMPLAINT
member. After meeting, and while parked in front of the friend’s home on Bluebelle Way, the
women were approached by Defendant Burke in police uniform. Much of the interaction was
filmed by the Black Unity member.
43. During an approximately one-hour interaction, the Black Unity member
repeatedly informed Defendant Burke that the two women and Black Unity saw the noose and
flag as racist symbols, and Burke repeatedly informed the women that their concerns were
"ridiculous"; that he perceived BU as a threat to the community; and that he believed that they
and Black Unity were coming to make trouble for the neighborhood.
44. At the outset of the encounter, Defendant Burke told the Black Unity member that
dispatchers had told him there were "associations" with her vehicle, "and people involved with
this vehicle," with Black Unity events, and referred to Black Unity as a "mob."
45. Burke stated, "I notice that you're here, you don't live here, my dispatcher says
you live in Eugene." The BU member noted that her friend lived there, and they were parked in
front of her home.
46. Burke commented, "You seem to have a particular interest in this house." The
BU member commented, "There's a noose hanging in front of that house." Burke responded,
"Well, I've heard that social media [sic] probably has some intention of 'canceling' this guy and
possibly destroying his livelihood. . . . Because that's what you do."
47. The Black Unity member commented repeatedly that it seemed he was implying
Black Unity was violent, and that she was being targeted specifically, and noted -- accurately --
that the Black Unity events to date had been peaceful.
48. Upon information and belief, Burke proceeded to use his cellphone to call the
noose-hanging neighbor (the phone number apparently already stored in his cellphone),

Page 10 -- COMPLAINT
addressing him by his first name only, throughout the call. He stated on the phone, "There's a car
outside your house that's associated with the BLM movement, Black Unity movement, what
have you. . . . I'm guessing they're part of the group attaching [sic] stuff all over social media,
going to meet at Jesse Maine [Park] and probably going to protest your decorations -- it's
ridiculous."
49. Burke repeatedly told the noose-hanging neighbor he did not know why BU cared
about the neighbor's "Halloween decorations," despite the fact that this call took place in July of
2020.
50. Burke stated to the neighbor on the phone, "The Black Unity group is hell-bent on
making an example of the noose that's hanging around that skeleton's neck. They don't care --
they're intent on canceling you."
51. Burke then told the two women in the car, "You'd like to create a false narrative
for your own propaganda efforts," and when they responded in surprise, "Do you mean Black
Lives Matter?" he retorted, "My feeling is all lives matter."
52. By July 2020, it was common knowledge and certainly a Springfield police
officer knew, or should have known, that stating "all lives matter" in response to the Black Lives
Matter protests was (and is) a statement intended to diminish, disrespect, and provoke; and was
explicitly adopted by President Trump and other right-wing speakers, in direct opposition to the
Movement for Black Lives.9 To say "all lives matter" during a somewhat heated discussion while
9
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Lives_Matter;
-https://www.cbsnews.com/news/all-lives-matter-black-lives-matter;
- https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/opinions/all-lives-matter-misses-the-big-picture-
baker/index.html;
- https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/us/all-lives-matter-black-lives-matter.html;
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a32745051/what-black-lives-matter-means/;
- https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/explaining-lives-matter-actually-means-say/.

standing across the street from a tree with a noose hanging from it – and with a young Black
woman who organizes protests in support of the Movement for Black Lives -- was offensive and
demonstrated animus.
53. When the Black Unity member in the vehicle again asked Defendant Burke about
his statement that he thinks her car is part of a Black Unity "mob," Burke nodded. She noted
again that BU has been largely peaceful, and Burke responded "No, it has not been 'largely' (with
air quotes) peaceful," again showing animus.
54. In response to the women's repeated attempts to calmly explain why a noose
carries racist connotations, Burke stated to the women that he didn't believe her statement that
there have been nooses hung up recently in Oregon, and says, show me one. She offered at least
twice to email him evidence and educational information, to which he did not respond.
55. A quick search of news stories makes clear that noose-hangings were indeed
rampant in Oregon during the first half of 2020, in stark contrast to previous years -- something
the SPD could easily have educated itself about, or should already have known about had they
been reasonably aware and properly trained in current racist and hate crime issues relevant to
their jobs as law enforcement officers.10
56. At one point, Burke stated to the women, "There has been a push and pull with
police. We'd like you to stay within the boundary and the boundary gets broken. When we see
10
- https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/06/image-of-nooses-posted-in-ohsu-chatroom-
report-says.html (June 8, 2020 -- nooses at Oregon Health Sciences University)
- https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/stuffed-monkey-with-noose-found-near-rainier/ (June 9,
2020 -- noose in Columbia County, Rainier)
- https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/06/noose-found-at-downtown-portland-
construction-site-officials-denounce-disgusting-act-of-racism.html (June 23, 2020 -- Portland)
- https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2020/06/23/oregon-sheriff-investigating-report-
noose-hanging-outside-yurt-campground/3242383001/ (June 23, 2020 -- Roseburg).

frozen water bottles and rocks . . . . " The women responded that there had been no such assaults
at BU events. Burke acknowledged, "I haven't seen water bottles or rocks at your events."
57. Shortly thereafter, a white female neighbor approached and asked Burke why he
was there; and he responded "My dispatcher called me. . . . Remember me explaining the fact
that it's all over social media?" -- to which the neighbor interrupted with "Yeah." Burke
continued, "There's going to be a thing -- the fact that this guy's decoration -- part of that thing is
instigating this response at Jessie Maine Park tonight."
58. Upon information and belief, Burke and/or one or more other SPD Officers had
indeed gone door to door telling Thurston residents that Black Unity was planning a huge protest
and that the SPD would be overwhelmed and would need the residents' help in resisting that
protest (inciting racist mob violence similar to Trump’s “You’ve gotta fight like hell.”).
59. Burke stated to the women in the vehicle, "Your presence is an unfortunate or
fortunate circumstance. I was called here because of the protests scheduled tonight, specifically
stating this guy's decorations as the reason."
60. About 45 minutes into the encounter, Burke told the women they should go online
and look at the recent "STOP" statistics ("Statistical Transparency in Policing"), representing that
those numbers show that there is no racism in the Springfield Police Department.
61. In fact, the 2020 STOP data for Springfield shows that 4.18% of police stops are
of Black people; whereas the 2019 census data shows only 1% of Springfield residents are Black
and similarly 1.6% of Eugene residents are Black.11
11
https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/CJC%20Document%20Library/STOP_Report_2020_FINAL.pdf;
- https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/springfieldcityoregon/PST045219;
- https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/eugenecityoregon

Other SPD Planning Before the July 29 Black Unity March
62. As noted above, upon information and belief, in addition to Defendant Burke’s
“investigation,” Springfield Police Officers went out into the neighborhood a day or two before
the Black Unity march to “warn” neighbors that the march was coming and that the police
department believed it was going to be outnumbered, and asked for neighbors to assist them in
keeping the BU marchers out of the neighborhood during the march.
63. Upon information and belief, SPD made a pretextual plan ahead of the march on
July 29 to set up traffic barriers and otherwise limit Plaintiffs' exercise of their First Amendment
rights.
64. People and groups opposed to the march, and opposed in general to the concept of
"Black Lives Matter" (hereinafter "Anti-BLM harassers") were in contact with SPD before the
protest. During the BU march, many of them repeatedly yelled "All Lives Matter," echoing
Defendant Burke's thinly veiled dog-whistle white supremacist/racist sentiments.12
The Black Unity March on July 29, 2020 -- “The Noose is a Nuisance”
65. The Black Unity march to protest the racist neighborhood noose and flag was
scheduled to start at 7 PM at Jesse Maine Memorial Park, near the 600 block of South 69th Place
in Springfield, Oregon.
66. Prior to marching, Plaintiffs and other protestors gathered at Jesse Maine Park.
67. Black Unity activists immediately were drawn into conversations with local
residents and members of an Anti-BLM mob that had gathered in advance and had been clearly
alerted and enflamed by SPD, among others.
12
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_whistle_(politics)

68. The harassing mob insisted, without evidence, that Black Unity organizers
intended to be violent during their march. Black Unity attempted to assuage those concerns to no
avail. Upon information and belief, the Anti-BLM harassers relied on baseless conspiracy
theories — like those which fueled the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 — to
support their accusations that Black Unity, Black Lives Matter, and generally those critical of
police, are “violent terrorists.” Relying on these conspiracy theories as well as the SPD prior
door-knocking, the Anti-BLM harassers, as well as Defendant members of SPD, upon
information and belief stated and implicitly indicated their intent to violently interfere with
Plaintiffs' exercise of their First Amendment rights.
69. Video footage taken by one member of the harassing group, Geena Shipman,
demonstrates that on the day of the protest, SPD Defendants were aware of the intent of the Anti-
BLM harassers to do violence and commit crimes against Plaintiffs and others who they
perceived to share the same or similar viewpoint as Plaintiffs.
70. Defendant Kirkpatrick directed Shipman (who later assaulted a protestor and
made a false report to police about it) to a specific location that police were trying to “push” the
protestors toward. Defendant Kirkpatrick offered this information after Shipman (as heard on her
video, and within earshot of Defendant Kirkpatrick) discusses weapons she planned to bring to
the protest and “taking America back.”
71. In another livestream posted by Ms. Shipman she is heard encouraging others to
“just fucking hit” the protestors and that “the cops don’t care, they’re on our side.”
72. When the march started, BU organizers explained to the Anti-BLM harassers that
they would be willing to speak with them one-on-one but that “we are protesting in this area

because it is our right — our constitutional right. We will not touch your property. We will not
come onto anyone’s property . . . . We are Black Unity and we are peaceful.”
73. During the march, Plaintiffs were peaceful, and did not engage in trespass,
property destruction, or violence. They chanted slogans, held signs, made speeches, and engaged
in other forms of activity protected by the First Amendment.
74. Plaintiffs travelled on the following route after meeting at Jesse Maine Memorial
Park: West on Forsythia Street, South on South 68th Place, West on Glacier Drive, then South
again on South 67th Street.
75. Plaintiffs did not obstruct traffic during the course of their peaceful march.
76. As the march progressed, people expressing anti-BLM views continued to harass
and intimidate Plaintiffs and other protest attendees, including but not limited to menacing
marchers with sticks and chemical weapons like bear mace and wasp spray, as well as other
weapons.
77. Defendants Rappe, Lewis, Crolly, and Neiwart were “command staff” with SPD
for the July 29, 2020 protest, and made the decision to place barricades at Dogwood and South
67th Street. The placement of the blockade was not a reasonable time, place, and manner
restriction upon Plaintiffs' constitutional right to march on public streets.
78. Defendants Durrant, Murray, Myers, O'Leary, and Weaver, with the help of other
Defendants, set up the barricades at the intersection of Dogwood Street and South 67th Street.
79. Plaintiffs were unable to continue their peaceful march because Defendants set up
a blockade at the intersection of Dogwood Street and South 67th Street.

80. At some point other Defendants also set up cones to prevent the march at the
intersection of Dogwood Street and South 68th Street. Defendants' barricades are noted as the
red lines in this diagram:
81. Plaintiff Tyshawn Ford was among the first of the BU organizers to approach the
barricade on 67th and Dogwood. Other anti-racist protestors stopped marching and stood about
75 feet away from the barricade while organizers like Mr. Ford asked police why they were
preventing him and others from continuing the march.
82. While Defendant members of SPD clearly heard Mr. Ford, they ignored him. Mr.
Ford then asked for a supervisor. Another organizer for Black Unity also asked to speak with a
supervisor. Again, they were ignored. Mr. Ford then left the barricade and went back to the

larger group of protestors. Anti-BLM mob members menaced and attempted to provoke
protestors from behind the police barricade on South 67th.
83. Around this time, some members of the Anti-BLM mob utilized the information
provided by Defendant Kirkpatrick, and drove around Springfield yelling and informing
passersby that they knew the protestors were being blocked by police and that they were on their
way to “go fuck them [protestors] up.”
84. Meanwhile, at the police barricade, Black Unity organizers and protestors
questioned Defendants about the lawful basis of the barricades and, as before, they were ignored.
National Lawyers Guild Legal Observers witnessed these attempts.
85. The protesters did not pass the barricade.
86. The protestors asked Defendants whether they could walk past the barricades,
why the Anti-BLM counter-protesters were allowed to be on the other side of the barricades, and
again why the barricades were set up. Again, they were ignored.
87. At about 8:48 PM, Plaintiff Mr. Ford again joined the protestors at the barricades.
He and other protestors did not cross the barricades.
88. Shortly after Plaintiffs' futile attempts to ascertain why the barricade was erected,
and while protestors continued to chant anti-racist, abolitionist, and BLM slogans, SPD appeared
to bring out an old-fashioned PA system. While protestors chanted, Defendant Lewis and other
Defendants stated indistinctly over the PA that the march was an “unlawful assembly” and
ordered everyone to disperse. Upon information and belief, only a few people near the front
could hear this statement.
89. Defendant Lewis’s order to disperse lacked a lawful basis, as the activities of
Plaintiffs and other protestors was protected by the First Amendment. Defendant Lewis began

his “unlawful assembly” announcement before the crowd had gathered at the barriers SPD had
erected; in fact, only a handful of protestors stood close or near to the barricades as the
Defendants declared the Plaintiffs' First Amendment activities to be unlawful.
90. Defendants' order was enforced based on perceived content-based discrimination
and was not enforced against members of the Anti-BLM harassers, many of whom congregated
and moved freely behind the police line, with Defendants taking no action against them; these
Anti-BLM people are circled below:


91. Defendants' order was met with several additional queries from Plaintiffs and
other protestors as to how and why the assembly was unlawful. As before, the Defendants
ignored Plaintiffs' questions.
92. There was no lawful basis for the declaration of an unlawful assembly, the order
to disperse, threats of arrest, or threats of force.
93. At about 8:52 PM, Mr. Ford and other BU organizers were attempting to verbally
and directly engage with one SPD officer, Defendant Durrant.
94. According to police records, Defendant Rappe directed Defendant Durrant and
other Defendants at the front of the police line to arrest Mr. Ford, a known BU leader, in
response to the content of his speech.
95. Defendant Durrant suddenly, without any lawful basis or warning, violently
attacked Mr. Ford. After the sudden attack by Defendant Durrant, other Defendants rushed
toward the crowd, pushing, punching, and striking Plaintiffs and other protestors without any
lawful basis.
96. No probable cause existed to arrest or detain Mr. Ford for his conduct.

97. Mr. Ford was violently pulled out of the crowd and away from the crowd by
Defendant Durrant and other Defendants, including Defendants Garcia-Cash, Bragg, and Rappe.
Defendants Rappe and Bragg dragged Mr. Ford by his feet/ankles.
98. Defendant Durrant kneeled over Ford and punched him twice in the head and face
while Defendant Rappe and other Defendants had control of Mr. Ford. In his report regarding his
justification for this use of force, Defendant Durrant wrote, falsely, “Ford audibly told me that he
would not comply.” Each photo below represents an individual strike from Defendant Durrant’s
raised fists:


99. Even if true, verbal protest about being arrested does not justify such an excessive
and violent act by law enforcement.
100. Defendant Durrant lied in stating he punched Mr. Ford in order to gain his
compliance. In fact, Mr. Ford was already complying. Defendant Rappe was sitting on Mr.
Ford’s lower body at the time Durrant assaulted Mr. Ford in retaliation for the words Mr. Ford
spoke.
101. Defendant Rappe dragged Mr. Ford further to the side while Mr. Ford had his
hands clasped over his chest in plain view. Rather than reach for his hands or exert any other
less-violent measure, Defendant Durrant again punched Mr. Ford in the head and face, as seen
below:
102. As a result of Defendant Durrant's and other Defendants' actions, Mr. Ford
suffered physical and emotional injuries.
103. Upon information and belief, Defendant Durrant was motivated to attack Mr.
Ford because he was offended and angered by Mr. Ford's and other Plaintiffs' protected speech.

104. Chants such as “All Cops Are Bastards” and “Fuck the Police” may not be
pleasant for public servants serving as law enforcement to hear. Indeed, in a June 12, 2020,
interview with local station KEZI 9 News, Defendant Weaver acknowledged that protestors’
First Amendment activity “ . . . does hurt morale when we are inundated with people saying all
sorts of bad stuff about us.”13 However, these chants and statements by protestors are
constitutionally protected speech, particularly when expressed by BIPOC people like Mr. Ford,
protesting repeated acts of police violence. Properly trained and supervised public servant law
enforcement are expected to tolerate criticism and/or insults in the line of duty.
105. Defendant Durrant falsely stated in his report that Mr. Ford was “instigating and
agitating the crowd to become bolder and move past the barricade.” This false statement was
clearly a post hoc rationalization intended to justify Durrant’s agitated reactive use of illegal
excessive force.
106. Mr. Ford did not disobey a lawful command, and his speech and speech activity
were protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
107. Defendant Durrant also falsely stated in his report that “several members of the
crowd beg[a]n to lift the barricades and advance toward us and our patrol cars with the
barricades in hand.” There is no evidence this occurred.
108. Plaintiff Martin Allums, a BU leader, was at some point struck in the face by
Defendant John Doe, while Mr. Allums was trying to assist a protester up from the ground, who
was in danger of being trampled. After Mr. Allums quickly explained the situation, Defendant
13
https://www.kezi.com/content/news/Police-are-being-blamed-for-something-they-have-no-
control-over-man-says-571231501.html

Doe nodded at Mr. Allums; however, as Mr. Allums helped the person up, Defendant Doe struck
Mr. Allums in the face, breaking his nose and causing other injuries.
109. Several other protestors were hit in the face by members of SPD, who thrust their
batons into the crowd repeatedly and indiscriminately.
110. The Defendants selectively enforced the laws depending whether they thought a
person supported or opposed Black Unity and/or Black Lives Matter -- in essence whether they
were for or against anti-racist and/or abolitionist ideology. For example, Defendant Quinones
stated in his report: "Under normal circumstances [Geena] Shipman’s behavior would have
constituted Disorderly Conduct II but her behavior was not isolated [sic] enough to mandate
arrest.”
111. In addition to injuring Plaintiffs, and providing information to Anti-BLM
harassers -- many of whom clearly wished to injure, provoke, and intimidate Plaintiffs --
Defendants repeatedly allowed those harassers, and others they perceived to be anti-BLM or
“pro-cop,” to traverse and remain behind police barricades, while violently enforcing the
barricade against Plaintiffs. As had occurred prior to July 29, SPD overtly demonstrated apparent
bias and disparate treatment between the two distinct groups present on July 29, 2020.
112. Body camera footage worn by Defendant Conrad on July 29, 2020, records
Conrad, and upon information and belief, Defendant Conrad’s partner, Defendant Casarez,
discussing the march and Plaintiffs. Defendant Casarez made the following statements indicating
animus towards plaintiffs:
A. Casarez: “I want that fat bitch to go to jail.” [referring to a Black Unity
supporter].

B. Casarez: “These fuckers, I wanna lock even more of em’ up.” [statement made
after Plaintiff Ford and other BU supporters were arrested.].
C. Casarez: “Finally, we did something though! Finally! Fuck yeah, dude! When
they fucking took that thing off, both things -- you good? -- and they were
trying to shove it back on us . . . and it was comin’ over and I fuckin grabbed
it and just chucked it back, that stupid 12 year old [inaudible] took it right in
the fuckin face [laughter] like just right [inaudible]. . . . At least we fuckin'
took a stand, just once [laughter].”
D. Casarez: “Five of em’, baby! Five down, how many to go? As many as we
need."14
E. A female voice on dispatch stated: “There are a couple of MMA15 fighters
with white pride shirts trying to start fights in the back,” to which Casarez
retorted, “Jesus Christ [inaudible]. . . . Let's minimize that a little bit, Jesus
Christ.” A male voice on dispatch also referred to the Anti-BLM mob as
“patriots.”
113. At a minimum, these statements demonstrate that Defendants were aware the
Anti-BLM mob were racially motivated to engage in violence, and that they had some training
and experience in fighting techniques designed to injure others.
114. In one instance, as Defendant Conrad left the intersection of 67th and Dogwood
Streets, he informed Anti-BLM harassers that the protestors were headed “east.”
14
It is unclear if it was Conrad or Casarez who said “as many as we need.”
15
https://www.britannica.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts

115. In another instance, as Defendant Conrad approached the police blockade at 68th
and Dogwood Streets, a person standing on the street approached Defendant Conrad and said: “I
wanna say something, can I just say something? Two blocks over, four trucks of people hopped
in their trucks with guns and they rolled up and said were goin' shoot these fuckin niggers."
116. Defendant Conrad responded: "Okay, okay, what am I supposed to do about it?"
The person responded “So you don't care . . . ?” To which Defendant Conrad said “I can’t do
anything about it right now." Defendant Conrad then appeared to try to turn his body-camera off,
but the interaction was recorded. Defendant Conrad then proceeded to stand at the 68th and
Dogwood barricade with numerous other officers for about nine minutes; he did not inform any
other officers of what he had heard, and in his written report did not document the threat of
racially motivated violence.
117. In yet another instance, a Black woman, acting as press and wearing a shirt clearly
marked in large letters “PRESS," asked Defendant Seanor why she was not permitted to walk
past a barricade at 68th and Dogwood, where apparent Anti-BLM harassers were walking
through and congregating behind the barricade. Defendant Seanor told the woman that the
members of the Anti-BLM mob were allowed to go where they please because they “don’t hate
all cops.”
118. In another clear instance of discrimination, animus, and selective enforcement by
Defendants, Defendants casually watched without intervention, indicating tacit approval, as
Plaintiffs Mya Lansing and Austin Johns were beaten and harangued by Anti-BLM harassers in
the immediate vicinity of ample police presence.
119. Plaintiffs Mya Lansing and Austin Johns were at the protest not as protestors but
in order to film and document the police, activity protected under the First Amendment.

120. At least three members of the Anti-BLM mob attacked Mya Lansing and Austin
Johns in full view of some of the Defendants.
121. One of the Anti-BLM harassers, Richard Dwayne Elce, struck Austin Johns in the
face, with the end of a 6- to 8-foot-long flagpole, in plain view of several Defendants, including
Defendant Turner. Elce has a prior conviction for assault.
122. When Johns and Lansing explained to Defendant Turner that they had just been
assaulted, Defendant Turner pushed Plaintiffs Johns and Lansing with his baton and ordered
them to keep moving. As Defendant Turner was pushing Johns and Lansing away, another
member of the Anti-BLM harassers ran up and grabbed Austin Johns’ camera and threw it
toward a nearby fence. Mr. Johns attempted to retrieve his camera, but the man pushed Mr. Johns
to the ground and attempted to pin him there. Again, this was in full view of Defendant Turner
and other Defendants.
123. Mya Lansing and Austin Johns then asked Defendant Turner and other
Defendants if the police were going to do anything about the man who had just assaulted them
and stolen their camera. Defendant Turner then grabbed Austin Johns by his shirt, pulling Johns
toward him while using his baton to jab Mr. Johns in the chest. While this was occurring,
Defendant Turner chastised Mr. Johns for even being present at the event.
124. Neither Mr. Elce, nor any of Plaintiffs' other attackers, were arrested at that time,
despite breaking the law in front of police, with victims present who wanted to pursue charges.
Mr. Elce was captured on video later in the evening continuing to threaten and attack people with
his flagpole, allowed by police to continue to assault with impunity. Below is a photo of Mr. Elce

threatening someone with his flag pole after he assaulted Plaintiffs Lansing and Johns:
125. Defendant Turner omitted from his report any mention of the assault and
harassment of Ms. Lansing and Mr. Johns by the Anti-BLM harassers he had observed. He wrote
that Ms. Lansing and Mr. Johns were “protestors,” when in fact both were present as
documentarians to film the police; neither had done anything to express their political affiliation
other than not clearly being a part of the Anti-BLM harassing mob and, in Plaintiff Lansing’s
case, being BIPOC.
126. Despite having just witnessed the intimidation and violence directed at the
plaintiffs, Defendant Turner and other Defendants pushed the Plaintiffs farther down 67th Street
where members of the Anti-BLM mob had gathered en masse -- in part at the behest of
Defendants. Plaintiffs, including but not limited to Ms. Lansing and Mr. Johns, continued to face
intimidation, threats, and harassment as they fled the area.

127. Defendants chose to selectively enforce laws, turn a blind eye to person-crimes
against BLM marchers, and discriminate against those they disagreed with, while allowing
members of the Anti-BLM mob to engage in violence without consequence. The actions and
inactions of the Defendants demonstrate that members of the mob were correct when they
repeatedly stated that “the cops don’t care” if they assaulted the Plaintiffs or that the “cops are on
our side" -- a phrase that was also stated by white supremacists who stormed the U.S. Capital on
January 6, 2021.
128. As the police-created chaos at the blockade subsided, law enforcement barricades
forced protestors, including Plaintiffs, to turn around and walk back toward where a number of
the Anti-BLM harassers had assembled in a gauntlet-like manner. This mob consisted of well-
known neo-Nazis such as violent felon Corey Wyatt and other known members of violent far-
right groups such as the Proud Boys and The American Patriot Society.
129. Defendants knew or should have known some of the harassers' propensity for
violence, based on their actions during Plaintiffs’ march, as well as the harassers' actions in the
past toward BLM supporters and, for some of them, past convictions for violent crimes. In
addition, many of the Anti-BLM mob were openly carrying weapons, including firearms, as

further acts of intimidation.
130. Despite that knowledge, Defendants pushed Plaintiffs and other protesters into
that mob of harassers. The results were predictable: Black Unity members and other protestors
were violently attacked. These attacks included but were not limited to verbal intimidation and
threats, menacing and blatant display of weapons, and actual physical assaults by the harassers,

including striking, pushing people to the ground, and spraying them with wasp spray.16 Upon
information and belief, some of the Defendants observed these assaults, while others left the
harassers to their work, intentionally leaving the area.
131. Defendant Wilson stated in his report that the Anti-BLM mob “worked with
police to assist” law enforcement after the protest.
132. The harassers heartily thanked their boys in blue as the Black Unity vehicles
departed, choosing to avoid further injury and confrontation. At that time, a supporter of the
BLM march was evacuated by ambulance after she was violently shoved to the ground by one of
the harassers, forcefully striking her head on the pavement. This disturbing assault was captured
on video. The assailant was not arrested by Defendants at the time.
133. The message from Defendants to Plaintiffs and other BLM supporters was clear:
If you protest racist symbols (the noose) and/or the police treatment of Black lives in our town,
we will not only attack you, but we will also allow and even encourage you to be attacked by
Anti-BLM harassers.
134. This was not the first time that the Defendants sought to prevent and chill
Plaintiff's speech. On June 26, 2020, Plaintiff’s attempted to peacefully protest in the Thurston
neighborhood.
135. During the June 26 protest, numerous unknown SPD officers formed a line at the
intersection of 66th Street and E Street, arbitrarily cutting off the march, preventing Plaintiffs
from exercising their First Amendment rights. No known arrests were made during this
preemptive foreclosure of First Amendment activities.
16
See https://www.patriotheadquarters.com/waspsprayasdefense-survival/.

136. Later in the evening of June 26, 2020, Black Unity Plaintiffs marched peacefully
in downtown Springfield. A truck containing a PA system drove slowly ahead of the march with
BU leadership in the truck’s bed.
137. SPD officers again formed a line on Sixth Street, under the Springfield Public
Library’s parking structure, in order to keep Plaintiffs and their supporters from marching.
138. At one point, an unknown SPD officer reached inside the Black Unity truck and
removed the keys from the ignition. The truck remained stuck in the middle of the road until an
SPD officer eventually returned the key. No arrests occurred during this incident.
139. Defendants' prior unconstitutional foreclosures of Plaintiffs' protected First
Amendment rights to assemble and march in nonviolent protest illustrate Defendants’ animus
and intent to prevent and chill Plaintiffs from conveying their political message.
140. Further, as Geena Shipman noted with glee in her video on July 29, the police
were on the "side" of the Anti-BLM mob — that was clear to the members of the harassing mob
on July 29, 2020, and it was clear to Plaintiffs and the general public.
141. Upon information and belief, in addition to what is alleged supra, the
participation of each of the named Defendants during the July 29, 2020, incident was as follows:
LEADERSHIP
Chief Lewis -- Planning; was physically present, assisting in the barricading and arrests at
67th and Dogwood.
Lt G.J. Crolly -- Planning; moved up behind the crowd control line at 67th and Dogwood
and held back barriers after Tyshawn Ford's arrest.
Lt Matthew Neiwart -- Planning; physically present.
Lt Rappe - Planning; present at 67th and Dogwood- enforced the barricade; ordered and
assisted in the unlawful arrest and force used against Mr. Ford.

Sgt D.C. Grice -- Planning; made a public statement at 67th and Dogwood improperly
asserting an unlawful assembly. On information and belief Defendant Grice was SPD’s
internal affairs sergeant at the time of this incident and would have been responsible for
investigating police misconduct.
Sgt P.P. Kirkpatrick -- Planning; provided the Anti-BLM harassers protection and
information about where the protesters were going to be corralled; helped enforce the
barricades on 67th and Dogwood; responded to S. 68th for “traffic control.”
Sgt Keith Seanor -- told a Black videographer that she could not go past the barricade,
but that the Anti-BLM harassers could, because "they don't hate all cops."
OFFICERS
A.A. Amundson -- Enforced the barricade at 67th and Dogwood and assaulted/pushed
protestors back with his baton.
T.J. Bazer -- Enforced barricades at 67th and Dogwood; delivered “focused blows.”
B.K. Bragg – Enforced the barricade at 67th and Dogwood; struck protestors; assisted in
the arrest and unlawful use of force against Mr. Ford.
Joseph N. Burke -- Heavily involved pre-event, as discussed supra; made racist

statements while on duty, has apparent personal associations with racist residents; went
back and forth between enforcement at the barricades at 67th and 68th.
D.L. Casarez -- Enforced the barricade on 67th and Dogwood; responded to 68th and
Dogwood with Defendant Conrad after Tyshawn Ford was arrested; upon information
and belief he heard numerous armed Anti-BLM harassers saying “they would shoot these
fucking niggers,” but took no action.
R.J. Conrad -- Enforced the barricades at 67th and 68th; his body-worn camera indicates
he also heard of numerous armed Anti-BLM harassers saying “they would shoot these
fucking niggers” but did not mention that in his report or take any action; based upon
information and belief, told the Anti-BLM harassers where the march was being pushed.
B.P. Dunn -- Enforced the barricade at 67th and Dogwood; pushed protesters.
Bronson Durrant - See supra.
J. Garcia-Cash -- Enforced the barrier on 67th and Dogwood and "fought" protestors
according to his report; assisted in arresting Tyshawn Ford.
T.J. Murray -- Set up barricades; filmed events.
J.J. Myers -- Enforced the barricade at 67th and Dogwood; jabbed at protestors, deployed

a pepper ball launcher "as a visual deterrent towards future riotous behavior” after
Tyshawn Ford was arrested.
C.J. O'Leary -- Enforced barricades at 67th and Dogwood; pushed marchers.
Officer Jared Quinones -- did not state any specific involvement but was present to help
enforce; stated in his report, “Under normal circumstances [Geena] Shipman’s behavior
would have constituted Disorderly Conduct II but her behavior was not isolated [sic]
enough to mandate arrest.”
R.A. Rosales -- Used a pushed-over barricade to push protestors back at 67th and
Dogwood; also went to 68th and Dogwood to enforce that barricade.
E.A. Sorby -- Enforced the barricades at 67th and Dogwood; struck protestors.
M. J. Thomsen -- Enforced the barricades at 67th and Dogwood; made numerous arrests;
assaulted protesters.
L.E. Turner -- Went back and forth between enforcement on 67th and 68th, but mostly
appeared to enforce the barricade on 68th; pushed Mya Lansing and Austin Johns, and
other events as alleged supra.
J.M. Wilson -- Enforced the barricade at 67th and Dogwood; stated: "Also in the area
was an equally large group of pro-police protestors who responded to the area to protect
the neighborhood and stand up for [sic] the national riots”; “The pro police protestors
positioned themselves at S 69th Place and Bluebelle Way, but worked with police to
assist Black Unity with leaving the area.”
Detective Weaver # 4854 -- Upon information and belief assisted with placing barricades;
engaged in undercover surveillance of a political group engaged in lawful First
Amendment activities.
CAUSES OF ACTION
FIRST CLAIM
FIRST AMENDMENT -- UNCONSTITUTIONAL RESTRAINT
Count 1
Monell/Municipal Liability -- 42 U.S.C. § 1983
First Amendment
Unconstitutional Restraint of Marches and Protests
by all Plaintiffs against the City of Springfield
142. Plaintiffs reallege each and every paragraph in this Complaint as if fully set forth
here.

143. Defendant City of Springfield has failed to properly train its officers, agents, and
employees on how to constitutionally respond to marches and protests; and/or has an official
practice, policy, or custom of allowing and/or ratifying unconstitutional restraint of marches and
protests. The City of Springfield has arbitrarily declared marches and protests and other activity
protected by the First Amendment to be “unlawful assemblies,” and has allowed individual
officers to do so, based on their own personal political opinions and/or the degree in which they
are offended by the opinions of protestors (particularly abolitionists), and to therefore blockade,
redirect, and "kettle" (corral)17 crowds, thereby interfering with and halting marches and protests
when SPD officer(s) disagree with the viewpoint of those First Amendment activities.
144. The policy, practice, and custom of Defendant City of Springfield, as well as its
failure to train and supervise employees and agents, regarding the declaration, implementation,
and enforcement of such “unlawful assemblies,” amounts to deliberate indifference to the rights
of Plaintiffs and caused violations of Plaintiffs’ rights to equal protection under the laws.
145. On July 29, 2021, such unconstitutional activity included
a) arbitrarily and unlawfully designating Plaintiffs’ protest as an “unlawful
assembly";
b) unlawfully and preemptively preventing Plaintiffs’ exercise of protected First
Amendment activity, without notice, by blockading and kettling, after tacitly approving the
march without the need for a permit;
c) chilling and interfering with Plaintiffs' lawful exercise of their First Amendment
rights through intimidation, show of force, and use of force; and
17
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettling.

d) rerouting the march so that the marchers were forced into the ranks of the violent
Anti-BLM mob.
146. Plaintiffs were engaged in activity protected by the First Amendment -- assembly,
protest of racism, abolitionist and other expression, and presentation of grievances against the
government.
147. Defendants retaliated against Plaintiffs for engaging in protected speech activity.
By retaliating against Plaintiffs for their protected speech activity, Defendants, acting under color
of state law, also caused Plaintiffs to be deprived of their First Amendment rights.
148. Defendants’ creation, defense, and enforcement of barricades that preemptively
circumvented a lawful and peaceful march, as well as the use of arrests, threats of arrest,
excessive force, and threats of force, prevented Plaintiffs’ lawful protest and assembly activity
from continuing, and were an unreasonable time, place, and manner restriction on Plaintiffs' First
Amendment rights, violating Plaintiffs’ rights under the First Amendment by prohibiting their
lawful protest, assembly, and other speech activity; and chilling or attempting to chill the First
Amendment activity of Plaintiffs and other reasonable people from engaging in such activity in
the future.
149. In addition, Defendants' use of force, threats of force, arrests, and threats of arrest
were acts that would chill a reasonable person from continuing to engage in constitutionally
protected activity.
150. Plaintiffs’ protected activity and the beliefs they expressed were a substantial or
motivating factor in the Defendants’ conduct.
151. Defendant City is directly liable to Plaintiffs for its unconstitutional policies,
customs, or practices; and/or for failing to properly train, supervise, or discipline its officers.

152. As a direct and proximate result of the actions and omissions described in this
complaint, plaintiffs incurred noneconomic damages, in an amount to be determined at trial.
153. Plaintiffs were required to hire attorneys to represent them in this matter and are
thus entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
Count 2
by All Plaintiffs against all Individual Defendants
154. Plaintiffs restate and reallege each and every paragraph of this Complaint as if
fully set forth here.
155. By their actions as described herein, each of the individual Defendants, under
color of statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or order, subjected all Plaintiffs to the deprivation
of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution, namely, Plaintiffs’ First
Amendment rights to assemble, protest against racism, call for abolition, and other political
expression, and present grievances against the government.
156. As a direct and proximate cause of the actions described herein, Plaintiffs
sustained noneconomic damages in an amount to be ascertained according to proof at trial.
157. The actions of the individual Defendants, as described herein, were malicious,
deliberate, intentional, and embarked upon with the knowledge of, or in conscious disregard of,
the harm that would be inflicted against Plaintiffs. As a result of this intentional conduct,
Plaintiffs are entitled to punitive damages against the individual Defendant, in an amount
sufficient to punish them and to deter others from like conduct.
thus entitled to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988.

SECOND CLAIM
EXCESSIVE FORCE
Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment
Count 1
Monell/Municipal Liability – 42 U.S.C. 1983
by all Plaintiffs against City of Springfield
here.
160. Defendant City of Springfield has an official policy, practice, or custom of
allowing its officers to use an unconstitutional level of force when effectuating arrests and when
dealing with marchers and protesters; and/or has failed to properly train officers to use an
appropriate level of force; and/or has allowed numerous other similar incidents; and/or has
encouraged or acquiesced in this unlawful behavior, and/or failed to adequately supervise or
discipline their officers regarding the unconstitutional use of force, thus evincing deliberate
indifference to Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights, sufficient to support a verdict that the City caused
the use of excessive force against Plaintiffs.
161. Defendant City is directly liable to Plaintiffs for its unconstitutional policies,
162. Such unconstitutional policies and failure to train, supervise, and discipline
violated Plaintiffs’ rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to be free from the use
of excessive force by police officers.
complaint, plaintiffs were physically injured, causing economic and noneconomic damages, in an
amount to be determined at trial.

Count 2
by Plaintiffs Ford, Allums, Lansing, and Johns,
against Defendants Turner, Durrant, Garcia-Cash, Bragg, Rappe, and Doe
166. By their actions as described herein, Defendants Turner, Durrant, Garcia-Cash,
Bragg, Rappe, and Doe, under color of statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or order, subjected
Plaintiffs Allums, Ford, Lansing, Johns, to the deprivation of rights, privileges, or immunities
secured by the Constitution, namely, Plaintiffs’ rights to freedom from excessive force or threat
of force.
167. As a direct and proximate cause of the actions described herein, Plaintiffs
sustained economic and noneconomic damages, including physical pain and suffering; loss of
liberty; damage and/or loss of property, and wage loss, all in an amount to be ascertained
according to proof at trial.
168. No reasonable officer would believe that such conduct was lawful or
constitutional.
169. The actions of Defendants Durrant, Turner, Garcia-Cash, Bragg, Rappe, and Doe,
as described herein, were malicious, deliberate, intentional, and embarked upon with the
knowledge of, or in conscious disregard of, the harm that would be inflicted against Plaintiffs. As
a result of this intentional conduct, Plaintiffs are entitled to punitive damages against those
Defendants, in an amount sufficient to punish them and to deter others from like conduct.

thus entitled to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
THIRD CLAIM
FOURTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS
WRONGFUL ARREST
Count 1
Monell/Municipal Liability – 42 U.S.C. 1983
by Plaintiff Ford against City of Springfield
here.
172. Defendant City of Springfield has an official policy, practice, or custom of
allowing its officers to wrongfully arrest people for speaking, marching and protesting, where
there is no probable cause to believe a crime has been committed; and/or has failed to properly
train officers to refrain from making such arrests; and/or has allowed numerous other similar
incidents; and/or has encouraged or acquiesced in this unlawful behavior, and/or failed to
adequately supervise or discipline their officers regarding such unconstitutional arrests, thus
evincing deliberate indifference to Plaintiff Ford's constitutional rights, sufficient to support a
verdict that the City caused the wrongful arrest of Plaintiff Ford.
173. Defendant City is directly liable to Plaintiff Ford for its unconstitutional policies,
174. Such unconstitutional policies and failure to train, supervise, and discipline
violated Plaintiff Ford's right to be free from wrongful arrest, under the Fourth and Fourteenth
Amendments.

complaint, Plaintiff Ford was wrongfully arrested, causing economic and noneconomic damages,
in an amount to be determined at trial.
176. Plaintiff Ford was required to hire attorneys to represent him in this matter and are
Count 2
by Plaintiff Ford, against
Defendants Durrant, Rappe, Garcia-Cash, and Bragg
178. Defendants’ conduct described in this Complaint violated the clearly established
rights of Plaintiff Ford to be free from unreasonable seizure, including a right to be free from
arrest or detention without reasonable suspicion or probable cause under the Fourth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
179. The unconstitutional declaration of an “unlawful assembly” and order to disperse,
described herein, formed the purported basis for the arrest of Plaintiff Ford. In addition,
Defendants retaliated against the content of Mr. Ford’s speech and targeted him as a known
leader of Black Unity.
180. Defendant Durrant and other Defendants who assisted with the arrest of Plaintiff
Ford lacked probable cause to arrest him.
181. Defendants knew or should have known that arresting Plaintiff Ford would
deprive him of his rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

182. As a direct and proximate cause of the actions described herein, Plaintiff Ford
sustained economic and noneconomic damages, including loss of liberty, all to his damage in an
amount to be ascertained according to proof at trial.
183. The actions of the individual Defendants were malicious, deliberate, intentional,
and embarked upon with the knowledge of, or in conscious disregard of, the harm that would be
inflicted upon Plaintiff Ford, such that an award of punitive damages is appropriate.
184. Plaintiff Ford was required to hire attorneys to represent him in this matter and is
FOURTH CLAIM
VIOLATION OF 42 U.S.C. § 1983
CONSPIRACY TO DEPRIVE CIVIL RIGHTS
by all Plaintiffs, against all Individual Defendants
186. By their actions in preparation for, and during, the July 29, 2020, march, the
individual Defendants conspired, and acted in concert, with each other and with the Anti-BLM
mob, to deprive Plaintiffs of their civil rights in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
187. The conspirators engaged in overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including
but not limited to the acts alleged supra.
188. The Defendants met and planned before the march, formulating a plan to limit
and/or quell, and/or chill the marchers' First Amendment activity, and to foment the Anti-BLM
harassers, who would violently interfere with BU’s march and/or activities; and were engaged in
a joint venture, assisting each other in the performance of the various actions described herein,
lending their physical presence and support and authority of their office to each other during
these events.

189. The conspiracy targeted and harmed the Plaintiffs' rights protected under the First,
Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments, as described in detail herein.
190. The individual Defendants are liable to Plaintiffs under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for the
damages Plaintiffs sustained, as alleged herein.
inflicted upon Plaintiffs, such that an award of punitive damages is appropriate.
FIFTH CLAIM
VIOLATION OF 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3)
CONSPIRACY TO DEPRIVE CIVIL RIGHTS, BASED UPON RACE OR CLASS
194. By their actions in preparation for, and during, the July 29, 2020, march, the
individual Defendants conspired, and acted in concert, with each other and with the Anti-BLM
mob, to deprive Plaintiffs of their civil rights in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3).
195. The conspirators engaged in overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including
but not limited to the acts alleged supra.
196. This conspiracy targeted Black people, and/or their supporters, and/or
abolitionists, and/or civil rights marchers, all of which groups are protected classes under 42
U.S.C. § 1985(3).
197. The Defendants entered into the conspiracy to take these actions because of
animus against one or more identifiable groups -- Black activists, abolitionists, civil rights

marchers, and their supporters; the Defendants had a meeting of the minds between themselves
and the Anti-BLM mob; and each of the Defendants acted in concert and/or participated in,
advised, supported, and/or helped advance the conspiracy, with the specific intent to cause harm
to the Plaintiffs.
198. The Defendants met and planned before the march, formulating a plan to limit
and/or quell, and/or chill the marchers' First Amendment activity; and were engaged in a joint
venture, assisting each other in the performance of the various actions described herein, lending
their physical presence and support and authority of their office to each other during these
events.
199. The conspiracy targeted Plaintiffs’ rights to be free from interference with their
First Amendment activities, from excessive force, and from false arrest, as alleged herein, and
Defendants' actions directly and unlawfully interfered with these rights.
200. In addition, as alleged supra, Defendants' conspiracy targeted and violently
interfered with Plaintiffs’ right to be free from racial violence by private parties, as protected by
the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and in fact facilitated the Anti-
BLM mob's harassment, violent assaults, and other hate crimes upon the Plaintiffs and
supporters.
201. The individual Defendants are liable under § 1985(3) for Plaintiffs' noneconomic
damages.

SIXTH CLAIM
VIOLATION OF 42 U.S.C. § 1986
FAILURE TO PREVENT A CONSPIRACY TO DEPRIVE CIVIL RIGHTS
205. The individual Defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 1986 by failing to meet their duty
to prevent or aid in preventing conspiracies to deprive civil rights.
206. Defendants knew that a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) was about to occur or
was occurring, had the power to prevent or aid in preventing it, and neglected or refused to
prevent or aid in preventing it.
207. Law enforcement’s failure to stop unlawful violence by a Section 1985(3)
conspiracy when they know it is about to occur is a quintessential Section 1986 violation.
208. As discussed in detail supra, the conspiracy to harm and restrain Plaintiffs' civil
rights, carried out by Anti-BLM harassers as well as law enforcement, consisted of barricading,
kettling, threatening violence, using violence, and arresting peaceful civil rights activists.
Further, Defendants informed Thurston residents that a march was planned in the neighborhood,
inciting fear and animus while also seeking the “help” of civilians to suppress and violate
Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.
209. Defendants knew or should have known that such violence was planned, and
could have taken actions to stop or limit that violence. Defendants willfully or negligently took
no such action, and in fact the evidence shows Defendants incited and encouraged the Anti-BLM
mob to engage in terrorizing violence and threats of violence.

210. Defendants could and should have refused to comply with unlawful orders,
refused to use force or arrest the Plaintiffs, and/or refused to order or allow officers under their
command to carry out unlawful acts; and instead could and should have affirmatively ordered
officers under their command to shield Plaintiffs from unlawful acts, protected Plaintiffs from
the Anti-BLM mob, and/or attempted to appeal to superiors to take a different course of action.
211. As a result of Defendants’ failure to prevent or aid in preventing the Section 1985
conspiracy, Plaintiffs were injured, and their rights were violated, as alleged herein, and
Plaintiffs suffered noneconomic damages.
212. The individual Defendants are liable under § 1985(3) for damages.
RELIEF REQUESTED
Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Court:
(a) Exercise jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claims and grant each of them a jury trial;
(b) Award Plaintiffs economic and non-economic damages, in an amount to be
ascertained according to proof, and interest on said sums from the date of judgment;
(c) Award Plaintiffs punitive damages against the individual Defendants in an
amount sufficient to punish them and deter others from like conduct;
(d) Award Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorney’s fees and costs as provided by 42 U.S.C. §
1988; and

(h) Based upon the pattern of misconduct displayed by City of Springfield and its
officers as alleged herein, grant the following declaratory and injunctive relief:
(1) order a five-year plan18 to reform the Springfield police department, including
the implementation of an independent monitor to oversee and address systemic racism,
failures within the recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, supervision and disciplinary
practices that result in civil rights violations;
(2) mandate community policing reforms; including emphasis on impartial
policing, and investigation and enforcement of hate crimes; and
(3) mandate use of force policy reforms, including but not limited to banning the
use of force against nonviolent people exercising constitutional rights as well as adequate
training regarding the constitutional rights of the people to assemble and exercise those
rights.
(i) Grant Plaintiffs such other and further relief as this Court deems just and
appropriate.
DATED: March 8, 2021.
/s/ Lauren Regan

Lauren Regan, OSB # 970878
/s/ Marianne Dugan

Marianne Dugan, OSB # 932563
/s/ Sarah Alvarez

Sarah Alvarez, OSB # 182999
18
Such relief has been ordered in other lawsuits against police departments. See, e.g.,
http://chicagopoliceconsentdecree.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Illinois-v.-Chicago-Final-
Consent-Decree-with-signatures.pdf.

CIVIL LIBERTIES DEFENSE CENTER

1430 Willamette Street #359
Eugene, OR 97402
Telephone: 541.687.9180
Fax: 541.804.7391

Case 6:21-cv-00346-AA Document 1-1 Filed 03/08/21 Page 1 of 2
JS 44 (Rev. 10/20) CIVIL COVER SHEET
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS
BLACK UNITY et al. CITY OF SPRINGFIELD et al.
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff Lane County of Residence of First Listed Defendant Lane
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
Civil Liberties Defense Center, Lauren Regan 1430
Willamette Street, #359 Eugene, OR 97402 PH:
541.687.9180
II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff
(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
1 U.S. Government ✖ 3 Federal Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party) Citizen of This State 1 1 Incorporated or Principal Place 4 4
of Business In This State
2 U.S. Government 4 Diversity Citizen of Another State 2 2 Incorporated and Principal Place 5 5
Defendant (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) of Business In Another State
Citizen or Subject of a 3 3 Foreign Nation 6 6

Foreign Country
IV. NATURE OF SUIT (Place an “X” in One Box Only) Click here for: Nature of Suit Code Descriptions.
CONTRACT TORTS FORFEITURE/PENALTY BANKRUPTCY OTHER STATUTES
110 Insurance PERSONAL INJURY PERSONAL INJURY 625 Drug Related Seizure 422 Appeal 28 USC 158 375 False Claims Act
120 Marine 310 Airplane 365 Personal Injury - of Property 21 USC 881 423 Withdrawal 376 Qui Tam (31 USC
130 Miller Act 315 Airplane Product Product Liability 690 Other 28 USC 157 3729(a))
140 Negotiable Instrument Liability 367 Health Care/ 400 State Reapportionment
150 Recovery of Overpayment 320 Assault, Libel & Pharmaceutical PROPERTY RIGHTS 410 Antitrust
& Enforcement of Judgment Slander Personal Injury 820 Copyrights 430 Banks and Banking
151 Medicare Act 330 Federal Employers’ Product Liability 830 Patent 450 Commerce
152 Recovery of Defaulted Liability 368 Asbestos Personal 835 Patent - Abbreviated 460 Deportation
Student Loans 340 Marine Injury Product New Drug Application 470 Racketeer Influenced and
(Excludes Veterans) 345 Marine Product Liability 840 Trademark Corrupt Organizations
153 Recovery of Overpayment Liability PERSONAL PROPERTY LABOR 880 Defend Trade Secrets 480 Consumer Credit
of Veteran’s Benefits 350 Motor Vehicle 370 Other Fraud 710 Fair Labor Standards Act of 2016 (15 USC 1681 or 1692)
160 Stockholders’ Suits 355 Motor Vehicle 371 Truth in Lending Act 485 Telephone Consumer
190 Other Contract Product Liability 380 Other Personal 720 Labor/Management SOCIAL SECURITY Protection Act
195 Contract Product Liability 360 Other Personal Property Damage Relations 861 HIA (1395ff) 490 Cable/Sat TV
196 Franchise Injury 385 Property Damage 740 Railway Labor Act 862 Black Lung (923) 850 Securities/Commodities/
362 Personal Injury - Product Liability 751 Family and Medical 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g)) Exchange
Medical Malpractice Leave Act 864 SSID Title XVI 890 Other Statutory Actions
REAL PROPERTY CIVIL RIGHTS PRISONER PETITIONS 790 Other Labor Litigation 865 RSI (405(g)) 891 Agricultural Acts
210 Land Condemnation ✖ 440 Other Civil Rights Habeas Corpus: 791 Employee Retirement 893 Environmental Matters
220 Foreclosure 441 Voting 463 Alien Detainee Income Security Act FEDERAL TAX SUITS 895 Freedom of Information
230 Rent Lease & Ejectment 442 Employment 510 Motions to Vacate 870 Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff Act
240 Torts to Land 443 Housing/ Sentence or Defendant) 896 Arbitration
245 Tort Product Liability Accommodations 530 General 871 IRS—Third Party 899 Administrative Procedure
290 All Other Real Property 445 Amer. w/Disabilities - 535 Death Penalty IMMIGRATION 26 USC 7609 Act/Review or Appeal of
Employment Other: 462 Naturalization Application Agency Decision
446 Amer. w/Disabilities - 540 Mandamus & Other 465 Other Immigration 950 Constitutionality of
Other 550 Civil Rights Actions State Statutes
448 Education 555 Prison Condition
560 Civil Detainee -
Conditions of
Confinement
V. ORIGIN (Place an “X” in One Box Only)
✖ 1 Original 2 Removed from 3 Remanded from 4 Reinstated or 5 Transferred from 6 Multidistrict 8 Multidistrict
Proceeding State Court Appellate Court Reopened Another District Litigation - Litigation -
(specify) Transfer Direct File
Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity):
42 U.S.C. Sections 1983, 1985, and 1986
VI. CAUSE OF ACTION Brief description of cause:
City of Springfield et. al. violated Plaintiffs' First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights
VII. REQUESTED IN CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMAND $ CHECK YES only if demanded in complaint:
COMPLAINT: UNDER RULE 23, F.R.Cv.P. JURY DEMAND: ✖ Yes No
VIII. RELATED CASE(S)
(See instructions):
IF ANY JUDGE DOCKET NUMBER
DATE SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD
Mar 8, 2021 /s/ Lauren Regan
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
RECEIPT # AMOUNT APPLYING IFP JUDGE MAG. JUDGE

Case 6:21-cv-00346-AA Document 1-1 Filed 03/08/21 Page 2 of 2
JS 44 Reverse (Rev. 10/20)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ATTORNEYS COMPLETING CIVIL COVER SHEET FORM JS 44

Authority For Civil Cover Sheet
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replaces nor supplements the filings and service of pleading or other papers as
required by law, except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is
required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. Consequently, a civil cover sheet is submitted to the Clerk of
Court for each civil complaint filed. The attorney filing a case should complete the form as follows:
I.(a) Plaintiffs-Defendants. Enter names (last, first, middle initial) of plaintiff and defendant. If the plaintiff or defendant is a government agency, use
only the full name or standard abbreviations. If the plaintiff or defendant is an official within a government agency, identify first the agency and then
the official, giving both name and title.
(b) County of Residence. For each civil case filed, except U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county where the first listed plaintiff resides at the
time of filing. In U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county in which the first listed defendant resides at the time of filing. (NOTE: In land
condemnation cases, the county of residence of the "defendant" is the location of the tract of land involved.)
(c) Attorneys. Enter the firm name, address, telephone number, and attorney of record. If there are several attorneys, list them on an attachment, noting
in this section "(see attachment)".
II. Jurisdiction. The basis of jurisdiction is set forth under Rule 8(a), F.R.Cv.P., which requires that jurisdictions be shown in pleadings. Place an "X"
in one of the boxes. If there is more than one basis of jurisdiction, precedence is given in the order shown below.
United States plaintiff. (1) Jurisdiction based on 28 U.S.C. 1345 and 1348. Suits by agencies and officers of the United States are included here.
United States defendant. (2) When the plaintiff is suing the United States, its officers or agencies, place an "X" in this box.
Federal question. (3) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1331, where jurisdiction arises under the Constitution of the United States, an amendment
to the Constitution, an act of Congress or a treaty of the United States. In cases where the U.S. is a party, the U.S. plaintiff or defendant code takes
precedence, and box 1 or 2 should be marked.
Diversity of citizenship. (4) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1332, where parties are citizens of different states. When Box 4 is checked, the
citizenship of the different parties must be checked. (See Section III below; NOTE: federal question actions take precedence over diversity
cases.)
III. Residence (citizenship) of Principal Parties. This section of the JS 44 is to be completed if diversity of citizenship was indicated above. Mark this
section for each principal party.
IV. Nature of Suit. Place an "X" in the appropriate box. If there are multiple nature of suit codes associated with the case, pick the nature of suit code
that is most applicable. Click here for: Nature of Suit Code Descriptions.
V. Origin. Place an "X" in one of the seven boxes.

Original Proceedings. (1) Cases which originate in the United States district courts.
Removed from State Court. (2) Proceedings initiated in state courts may be removed to the district courts under Title 28 U.S.C., Section 1441.
Remanded from Appellate Court. (3) Check this box for cases remanded to the district court for further action. Use the date of remand as the filing
date.
Reinstated or Reopened. (4) Check this box for cases reinstated or reopened in the district court. Use the reopening date as the filing date.
Transferred from Another District. (5) For cases transferred under Title 28 U.S.C. Section 1404(a). Do not use this for within district transfers or
multidistrict litigation transfers.
Multidistrict Litigation – Transfer. (6) Check this box when a multidistrict case is transferred into the district under authority of Title 28 U.S.C.
Section 1407.
Multidistrict Litigation – Direct File. (8) Check this box when a multidistrict case is filed in the same district as the Master MDL docket.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NOT AN ORIGIN CODE 7. Origin Code 7 was used for historical records and is no longer relevant due to
changes in statue.
VI. Cause of Action. Report the civil statute directly related to the cause of action and give a brief description of the cause. Do not cite jurisdictional
statutes unless diversity. Example: U.S. Civil Statute: 47 USC 553 Brief Description: Unauthorized reception of cable service.
VII. Requested in Complaint. Class Action. Place an "X" in this box if you are filing a class action under Rule 23, F.R.Cv.P.
Demand. In this space enter the actual dollar amount being demanded or indicate other demand, such as a preliminary injunction.
Jury Demand. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether or not a jury is being demanded.
VIII. Related Cases. This section of the JS 44 is used to reference related pending cases, if any. If there are related pending cases, insert the docket
numbers and the corresponding judge names for such cases.
Date and Attorney Signature. Date and sign the civil cover sheet.

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Case 6:21-cv-00346-AA Document 1 Filed 03/08/21 Page 1 of 50

Lauren C. Regan, OSB # 970878

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

BLACK UNITY; MARTIN ALLUMS; Case No. 6:21-cv-346

CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, a municipal corporation; REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL

PLAINTIFFS, by and through their attorneys, CIVIL LIBERTIES DEFENSE CENTER,

for their Complaint against Defendants, allege as follows.

area of Springfield, Oregon.

summary justice, outside the law.”1

5. Racial profiling of African Americans, including their deliberate murder, has

7. “The Proud Boys," "Patriot Front,” and other white supremacist/neo-Nazi/racist

a member of a particular race or identifiable class of people.

identifiable class of people.

or aid in preventing that harm, neglects or refuses so to do.

B. 2020 Actions in Support of the Movement for Black Lives

12. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African-American, was murdered by a

please, please, I can’t breathe.”

broke into her home to execute a no-knock warrant.

at the hands of law enforcement.

and allowing violent counter-demonstrators to attack, threaten, harass, intimidate, or otherwise

emboldened the attacks against Plaintiffs.

evening, in downtown Springfield.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1342(a).

community service to the Black community.

(Black, Indigenous, Person of Color,5) person.

of Lane County, Oregon. Ms. Lansing identifies as a BIPOC person.

of Lane County, Oregon.

27. Defendant City of Springfield is a political subdivision of the State of Oregon.

the time of the events described herein.

and were at all relevant times, police lieutenants employed by SPD.

were at all relevant times, police sergeants employed by SPD.

were at all relevant times, police officers employed by SPD.

name when ascertained.

acted within the course and scope of their employment.

acted under color of authority and/or under color of law.

Thurston area of Springfield, Oregon.

in a tree at Bluebelle Way in Springfield.

intimidate Black people.6

filmed by the Black Unity member.

43. During an approximately one-hour interaction, the Black Unity member

front of her home.

possibly destroying his livelihood. . . . Because that's what you do."

that the Black Unity events to date had been peaceful.

they're intent on canceling you."

Lives Matter?" he retorted, "My feeling is all lives matter."

air quotes) peaceful," again showing animus.

their jobs as law enforcement officers.10

instigating this response at Jessie Maine Park tonight."

stating this guy's decorations as the reason."

and similarly 1.6% of Eugene residents are Black.11

Other SPD Planning Before the July 29 Black Unity March

keeping the BU marchers out of the neighborhood during the march.

Defendant Burke's thinly veiled dog-whistle white supremacist/racist sentiments.12

alerted and enflamed by SPD, among others.

door-knocking, the Anti-BLM harassers, as well as Defendant members of SPD, upon

Plaintiffs' exercise of their First Amendment rights.