Bicyclists Sue Sacramento Police

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 31, 2002

Bicyclists to Sue Sacramento Police Department
Press conference Tuesday, June 4, 2002
Noon, in front of Federal Courthouse

Bicycle activists are taking the Sacramento Police Department to task with a lawsuit lead by the Bicycle Civil Liberties Union (BCLU), an international advocacy organization which champions the rights of bicyclists and pedestrians.

The lawsuit targets the rampant pattern and practice of civil rights abuses committed by the Sacramento Police Department over the past decade, specifically with regards to abuses against Critical Mass bicycle demonstrations which began May 4th of 2001. Heavy handed police response made it clear they intended to crush the right to demonstrate on two wheels in California’s capitol city.

“This was at least the third time that Sacramentans attempted to start a Critical Mass bicycle demonstration,” said BCLU Director Jason Meggs. “Each of these times, Sacramento police have attempted to crush the rides through harassment, threats, illegal searches, interrogations, false citations, and false arrest. These campaigns of repression have repeatedly succeeded. BCLU was called upon to see they didn’t succeed again.”

“There’s no question that a preponderance of evidence indicts the Sacramento Police Department for knowingly and repeatedly violating the First Amendment rights of the cycling citizens of Sacramento to demonstrate,” said BCLU attorney Lawrence Hildes.

“We tried to work with the City reasonably, appealing to the City Council, the Office of the City Manager, the Office of Police Accountability and more. We were promised that the police would not abuse the demonstrators’ rights – but they continued,” said Jason Meggs. “Sadly, stories abound of police abuses against everyday bicyclists as well, which may be the subject of a future lawsuit if the Department will not clean up its act. We feel that after ten years of preventing legitimate first amendment activity for clean air, safer streets and sustainable cities, that we have no choice but to follow through with this action at this time.”

Photos, video and specifics of police abuses can be found at the BCLU website, specifically under http://www.bclu.org/sactocm/. Quality hi-8 footage is available. The press conference will occur shortly after the suit is filed Tuesday morning. Supporters with signs and banners will be present.