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Black Lives Matter Activist Sues LAPD for $4 Million

The suit, filed this week, alleges that Akili was falsely imprisoned, unjustly assaulted, arrested without probable cause and subject to lies "concocted" by police at the highest levels of the department, and "outrageous conduct" that caused him emotional distress.

May 11, 2017
1 min to read


Black Lives Matter activist Greg Akili was part of a group of people who were tossed out of a Los Angeles Police Commission meeting on Feb. 9, 2016 for shouting at commissioners. Akili was told to shut up or get out. He didn't quiet down, so two officers escorted him outside. Commission executive director Richard Tefank followed and, according to Akili, ordered his arrest after he had been released.

Akili was charged with battery on a police officer.

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The city's case didn't go well. The jury deadlocked, and the City Attorney's Office moved to dismiss the case. Now Akili is suing the city, the commission and the Los Angeles Police Department in federal court, alleging violations of his civil rights.

The suit, filed this week, alleges that Akili was falsely imprisoned, unjustly assaulted, arrested without probable cause and subject to lies "concocted" by police at the highest levels of the department, and "outrageous conduct" that caused him emotional distress. The filing asks for $4 million in damages, attorney's fees and individual damages from those involved, the LA Weekly reports.

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