Black Lives Matter Sues LAPD Over Violent Tactics

by Rafael Pena

December 25, 2023

A lawsuit has been filed against the LAPD by Black Lives Matter over violent tactics employed during traffic stops.

A lawsuit has been filed against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) by Black Lives Matter and the Community Coalition of South Los Angeles over violent tactics employed during traffic stops involving suspected stolen vehicles. The legal action was announced by members of these organizations outside LAPD headquarters on the morning of Dec. 19.

Leslie Johnson, a representative of the Community Coalition, emphasized that the case provides an opportunity to address the longstanding issue of police violence, particularly in the context of traffic stops. Attorney Rebecca Brown, representing Black Lives Matter and the Community Coalition, stated that the objective is to halt the LAPD’s alleged unconstitutional policy of conducting violent and traumatic traffic stops based on information from police databases suggesting a vehicle might be stolen.

Plaintiffs Sheilanne “Shona” Sen and Shibani Balsaver shared their experience with the LAPD in February 2020 when they claimed at least ten officers pulled guns on them and pinned them to the ground after mistakenly identifying their U-Haul truck as a stolen vehicle in Los Feliz. Sen expressed the trauma of the encounter, stating, “I was sure I was going to die,” and shared how her trust in the police has been shattered since.

Attorney Brown referred to LAPD statistics, alleging that approximately three-quarters of suspected stolen vehicle stops do not involve stolen vehicles. She cited a 2014 ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, stating that LAPD tactics violated the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, as she will be representing.

Chief Michel Moore responded to the legal action, saying, “As this is a matter of ongoing litigation, we will respond to these allegations in the appropriate setting.”

Moore defended the department’s practices, asserting that they are constitutional and aimed at ensuring the safety of everyone involved in such incidents.

Plaintiff Sen shared her story to highlight what she perceives as a damaging policy that needs to change. “I was treated as less than human that day. I was made to feel that my life had no value,” she said. The lawsuit seeks to address broader issues related to police conduct during traffic stops, emphasizing the need for reform and accountability within the LAPD.