A lawsuit filed Monday accuses Rochester, NY, officials of allowing a culture of police brutality against racial minorities to fester and asks a court to force reforms, the Associated Press reports.
The civil rights lawsuit was filed on behalf of potentially “hundreds, if not thousands” of people it claims have been victimized by officers over the last three years. Plaintiffs' counsel is seeking class status.
“The city needs to stop aiding in the discrimination, murder and abuse of black and brown folks. There has been enough talk about reform, the time to take action is now,” said plaintiff Winona Miller, 52.
The 96-page lawsuit names Mayor Lovely Warren and former Police Chief La’Ron Singletary, who was fired in the fallout from Prude’s death. Other defendants include the city of Rochester, Monroe County and various unidentified police officers, sheriff’s deputies and New York state troopers.
