Detroit’s lawsuit against Black Lives Matter protesters will continue uninterrupted. That follows a five-to-four vote by Detroit City Council to fund the city’s countersuit.
Many city resident urged Council to reject the 200-thousand dollar expenditure. But Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia says he’s obligated to defend the City of Detroit in federal court.
“That is going to be an expense that requires funding, no matter where we stand with regards respect to counterclaims,” said Garcia.
Council member James Tate disagrees. He voted against the measure, saying city prosecutors have dodged questions related to the case.
“The evidence that I have seen does not lead me to conclude there was any civil conspiracy,” Tate says.
Detroit’s counter-suit follows a federal complaint made by protesters. They allege the Detroit Police Department used excessive force to disrupt last summer’s anti-police brutality marches.
Earlier today (TUE), Detroit prosecutors dropped 238 charges against people who protested during the immediate aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.