NEWS & VIEWS
Detroit police tackle a protester early Sunday morning.
ADAM J. DEWEY
Black and blue
Lawmakers call for investigation after Detroit police arrested 42 protesters, seriously injuring some B y S te v e N e a v lin g
Two lawmakers are joining calls for an investigation after more than 40 peaceful protesters, some of whom were seriously injured by baton-wielding cops, were arrested early Sunday morning for blocking Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. At least five protesters were ta en to the hospital. “There should be a full independent investigation of this incident and the use of excessive force involved against the Detroit Will Breathe protestors,” state Rep. Stephanie Chang said on Twitter Sunday. Protesters were rallying against the influx of federal agents who are part of Operation egend, a crime fighting initiative that was recently launched by the Department of Justice. “The Detroit Police Department has been using the arrests of innocent Black people to deceive the public as they help justify Trump’s racist, scapegoating, ‘ tough on crime’ rhetoric that both appeals to his base and creates an
atmosphere of authoritarian rule,” Nakia Wallace, an organizer for the protest group Detroit Will Breathe, said in a statement late Saturday night. Shortly after midnight, police in riot gear used pepper spray, tear gas, batons, and shields to plow through the group of protesters. Police struck protesters with batons and pushed them to the ground. One cop pepper-sprayed a protester in the face while he was held down by officers on the street. At least five protesters, some of whom were initially denied treatment, were taken to the hospital, witnesses tell M e t r o T i m e s . One of them was Alex Anest, a clearly marked medic whose rib was broken and lung collapsed when an officer clubbed him in the bac with a baton and “dragged me 15 feet across the sidewal and cuffed me, Anest said on Facebook. He said he called 9 11 after he was denied treatment and police held him with a group of detained protesters. e eventually was let go and flagged down protesters for a ride to the hospital
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at 4 a.m. “Standing up for Black Lives can be dangerous, but not standing up for Black Lives is disgusting,” Anest said. “This nation was literally built on the backs of enslaved people and that’s a fact that white people must never forget. The legacy of slavery is with us always.” Anest was still in the hospital Monday morning. His friend Matt Hollerbach, who also was arrested, said other protesters had black eyes and cuts on their heads. One had a broken wrist. “My friend had a hole gouged into his face with a baton and will need surgery to fix a compound wrist fracture, ollerbach tells M e t r o T i m e s . K evin K wart said a cop punched him in the face more than 10 times and injured his shoulder. Both of his eyes were swollen and black and blue. Police also arrested a journalist and a legal observer. Detroit police tell M e t r o T i m e s they are investigating. “Any allegations of misconduct we will
investigate,” Sgt. Nicole K irkwood tells M e t r o T i m e s , saying the department is reviewing videos and a photo. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, called on the Detroit Police Commission to investigate. “While there have been a few commissioners who have spoken up about police violence consistently, we need the entire elected Board of Police Commissioners to take action,” Tlaib tweeted Sunday. “We cannot standby while residents & peaceful protestors continue to be harmed.” Detroit police also were accused of using excessive force on protesters in late March and early April. They also arrested reporters. On July 20, Wayne County Prosecutor K ym Worthy charged a police corporal with three counts of felonious assault for allegedly firing rubber pellets at three photojournalists, all of whom were injured, on May 3 1. Detroit police are holding a press conference at 1:3 0 p.m. to discuss how police handled the protest.
