Thousands have marched in Detroit since Friday as part of a spreading effort to reform policing and demand accountability, especially in regard to police brutality involving people of color.
Three organizations, Michigan Liberation, the National Lawyers Guild and the Detroit Justice Center issued a joint statement Wednesday claiming Detroit police are committing some of the same abuses protesters hope to end.
Four of five protests have begun peacefully and concluded with Detroit police using force to arrest protesters -- over 300 arrests in total -- in some cases after having objects thrown at them by demonstrators. The most recent arrests were in part based on noncompliance with an emergency 8 p.m. curfew instituted by Detroit beginning Sunday.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig on Wednesday evening, following the arrests of three more Minneapolis police officer involved in the detention that led to George Floyd’s death, called it a “day of unity” and “celebration.”
Related: Protesters celebrate ‘victory’ after police chief eases curfew enforcement
Craig on Wednesday night said his officers wouldn’t enforce the 8 p.m. curfew so long as the protests remain peaceful. He said there are “still issues,” but wouldn’t set a threshold for how long he would allow the protests to last.
“While the Detroit Police Department and Mayor Duggan applauded a night of peaceful protests two nights ago, Michigan Liberation is compelled to share stories from those on the ground over the last five nights of protests,” the joint statement said. " Consistently, peaceful protesters have been met with aggressive tactics and unnecessary force."
Some Detroit police misconduct or police brutality the organization claims:
- Police issued insufficient or unclear dispersal orders that included “no clear safe path to disperse” and followed up by “teargassing and escalating nonviolent but angry crowds.”
- Witnesses reported police “hitting people with batons," committing “unwarranted serious assaults on peaceful protesters” and “beating protesters on the ground.”
- Police injured protesters while firing rubber bullets and aimed tear canisters at protesters, rather than lobbing them in the air, “an illegal practice that has previously resulted in deaths.”
- Police “assaulted and arrested” members of the National Legal Guild
- Police have arrested protesters in the process of leaving the protests, “some being pulled from their cars.”
- Officers failing to where “Covid-compliant” masks.
- Holding arrested protesters in “non-Covid compliant, unsafe conditions.”
- Officer intentionally covered badges “to prevent accountability for unlawful actions.”
Protesters march through Detroit again for second day of protesting police brutality and justice for George Floyd Saturday May 30, 2020 in Detroit. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com
Detroit police on Tuesday reported the arrests of 127 people, including Tristan A. Taylor, one of the organizers who was initially held on suspicion of inciting a riot. He was released Wednesday afternoon and the charge was reduced to misdemeanor resisting a police officer, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said.
“What was the foremost in my mind, we have a curfew,” Craig said on Wednesday in defense of the mass arrest, despite evidence of violence committed by protesters.
Craig said some protesters embedded with the march were believed to have “other agendas.”
“This is about keeping our city safe, reducing the likelihood of property damage,” Craig said " ... We responded appropriately ... It’s not my goal to arrest, but they violated the curfew."
Protests continued in Detroit on Wednesday night.
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