Despite Chief Newsham’s denial, footage shows MPD officers deployed tear-gas at protesters attempting to escape at Lafayette Square.

Chief Newsham and several MPD officers will be added to our Black Lives Matter v. Trump suit after their clear coordination with federal law enforcement to tear-gas protesters.

Video footage shows our plaintiff telling MPD officers advancing towards him, with his hands raised, “there’s a child over here, she can’t breathe because of the gas.” His 15 year old daughter is heard screaming and crying in the background.

“George Floyd’s horrific death moved my daughter and me to attend the demonstration that day. Instead of being allowed to exercise our rights, we were attacked by both federal and D.C. law enforcement without reason and without warning. We were there to make a statement against police violence and the police just ended up proving our point.” – Daniel Foley, plaintiff in suit against law enforcement and federal officials

Watch the full video of MPD and other officers here.

“The response of the Metropolitan Police Department to demonstrators marching for racial justice and against police brutality is appalling. In a city in which people march on a nearly daily basis, violence and suppression is reserved for Black demonstrators and their allies. This is one example in a pattern by MPD to target Black Lives Matter and other racial justice demonstrators.” – Kaitlin Banner, Deputy Legal Director