The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington called on the U.S. Justice Department Thursday to investigate whether there is a pattern and practice of civil rights violations by the Seattle Police Department, citing a newly released video showing an officer kicking an African-American teenage boy and other "unnecessarily violent confrontations with citizens" of color.
Executive Director Kathleen Taylor said the ACLU will send a letter and other documentation to the Justice Department next week.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle did not have an immediate comment.
In a written statement, the ACLU said, "These repeated incidents over the last 18 months, which have continued without forceful intervention by the Seattle Police Department, the mayor, or Seattle's other elected officials, leads the ACLU to call on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether there is a pattern and practice of civil rights violations by the Seattle Police Department in violation of the Constitution and federal law."
ACLU Calls for Civil Rights Probe of Seattle PD
The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington called on the U.S. Justice Department Thursday to investigate whether there is a pattern and practice of civil rights violations by the Seattle Police Department, citing a newly released video showing an officer kicking an African-American teenage boy and other "unnecessarily violent confrontations with citizens" of color.
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