Lucha Bright Violently Attacked By Los Angeles Police Department Officer During Protest Over LGBT Rights Issues In Schools

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (August 31, 2023) – A peaceful protester identified as Lucha Bright was violently attacked by an LAPD officer during protests in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the protests took place on Tuesday. One group of protesters  was in support of policies that required schools to notify parents if their children identified as a gender other than the one listed on their birth certificate.

Lucha Bright is a member of the Revolution Club activist group and was one of the counter protesters. Both groups assembled outside of Los Angeles City Hall. They then marched to Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters by Third Street and Beaudry Avenue.

Some participants gathered in the intersection leading the LAPD to declare an unlawful assembly. Officers began yelling at the protesters to disperse.

Cellphone video shows one officer repeatedly strike Lucha Bright with a baton. She was injured from the assault and escorted away along with several other people.

A full investigation into the use of force by the LAPD remains ongoing.

 

Liability For Excessive Force By The LAPD

Excessive force incidents involving police officers are much more common than many people may realize. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “Of the over 78,000 law enforcement officers in California, about 80 are arrested each year; assault is the most common reason for arrest. Data on arrested officers do not capture the full range of police misconduct.” The LAPD, in particular, has a very poor track record with their treatment of protesters. There are a number of ways that the LAPD officers may have engaged in excessive force.

• Officers may shoot a non-dangerous suspect attempting to flee.
• Officers may hit or attack a suspect that did not pose any immediate threat.
• Officers may hold individuals in stressful positions for extended periods of time.

Police officers must always use the least amount of force necessary in any given situation. They are not allowed to beat peaceful protesters. When a police officer engages in excessive force, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any instance of police brutality.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
• Medical records related to any injuries should be preserved.
• An experienced civil rights attorneys should be contacted.

The government has a monopoly on the use of force. As such, the powers afforded to the police should always be used with great discretion. Sadly, though, police officers will regularly abuse their power and attack people who pose no harm to them or anyone else. To make matters worse, police departments will almost never accept responsibility for the excessive force of their officers. Any person that is injured by the unlawful actions of the LAPD may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

 

Getting Legal Help After Police Brutality Involving The LAPD

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to Lucha Bright and the other protesters as they continue to recover. What the LAPD chose to do that day was completely unacceptable and must not be tolerated. The United States has a long and proud tradition of protecting people’s right to peaceful assembly and protest. By choosing to engage in needless violence, the LAPD not only physically harmed protesters that day, they did damage to our nation’s First Amendment principles they are charged with protecting.

Have you or someone that you care about been a victim of police brutality? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of civil rights advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to upholding the constitutional rights of all people. In fact, we focus entirely on helping those who have been harmed by police abuses of power and government neglect. There is a reason so many people have chosen us to represent them. It is because we care deeply about winning for our clients and getting them truly exceptional results. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.