Hundreds of peaceful protesters were attacked Monday night outside the White House by a coordinated charge of officers deploying several rounds of tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound cannons. 

“What happened to our members Monday evening, here in the nation’s capital, was an affront to all our rights. The death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers has reignited the rage, pain, and deep sadness our community has suffered for generations. We won’t be silenced by tear gas and rubber bullets. Now is our time to be heard.” – April Goggans, Black Lives Matter DC

On behalf of Black Lives Matter DC and five protesters, we filed suit together with ACLU DC, the National Lawyers’ Committee, and Arnold & Porter, asserting that Donald Trump, William Barr, and numerous other high-level federal officials and line officers of the Secret Service, Park Police, D.C. National Guard, U.S. Military Police, and Arlington County Police violated protesters’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech and assembly, violated their Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizures, and engaged in a conspiracy to violate their civil rights.

“The deaths at the hands of police of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other people of color has brought people to the streets across the nation to call for change. At this moment, the White House is a uniquely important venue for protest and demonstration. The actions in Lafayette park were a shocking assault one the First Amendment rights of people peaceably assembled to call upon their government for action.” – Jonathan Smith