CHARLOTTE – The ACLU of North Carolina today issued the following statement today regarding the excessive force used against demonstrators across North Carolina on Tuesday. Tuesday’s demonstrations were met with a violent, militarized response from state and local law enforcement agencies, including the firing of chemical agents by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, the destruction of a medical tent in Asheville, and the use of force against Tim Lemuel, the owner of an LGBTQ bar, in the parking lot of his own business in Raleigh.
“The violence and brutality we’re seeing perpetrated against peaceful demonstrators, business owners, and medical personnel is indefensible,” said Chantal Stevens, interim executive director for the ACLU of North Carolina. “The fact that law enforcement agencies appear to be specifically targeting people for providing water and medical supplies to protesters is deeply disturbing, harmful to public safety, and an affront to basic human rights. North Carolina law enforcement agencies must immediately suspend the use of force against demonstrators. People have a constitutional right to demand justice and make their voices heard – without being subjected to military-style assault, chemical warfare, or harassment by the police. The ACLU of North Carolina will continue to monitor the state and local response to these protests and stand ready to defend the constitutional rights of all those demanding an end to the epidemic of police violence against people of color.”
The ACLU of North Carolina is also calling for transparency regarding the surveillance tools being used in police enforcement surrounding the protests.