Lawyers for Michael Jennings, a black pastor arrested while watering his neighbor’s flowers, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Friday alleging that the three Childersburg, Alabama, police officers who arrested him violated his rights under First and Fourth Amendments.
In the lawsuit, Jennings’ lawyers also alleged false arrest.
Jennings was arrested in May after a neighbor who did not recognize him called police, thinking Jennings was a suspicious person at another neighbor’s home, who was out of town, CNN previously reported.
At a news conference on Saturday, Jennings said he felt dehumanized and humiliated during his arrest and that his wife and a neighbor begged police to release him.
“What they did that day, they did with impunity, figuring that there would be no action against them. I felt dehumanized, I felt little,” Jennings said. “I felt helpless, and it hurt me.”
He added that despite verbally identifying himself to responding officers, the police did not believe him. Jennings said she had no physical identification with him and told police she would not retrieve it and hand it over to officers.
“I am not here for revenge”
Lawyer Harry Daniels said he hopes the interaction, captured in a video that has since gone viral, will put law enforcement across the country on alert that “that’s not the way it’s done” and went on to praise the calm nature. and serenity of the pastor during and after his arrest.
Another attorney for Jennings, Bethaney Embry Jones, said the police should have been more familiar with the laws, adding that the incident should never have taken place.
Alabama NAACP President Benard Simelton asked people who find themselves in similar situations to Jennings to document what happens.
Jennings said Saturday that the mayor of Childersburg had not yet contacted him about his arrest.
“I’m here today so there’s some accountability,” Jennings said. “I’m not here for revenge, I’m here for responsibility and justice.”
The lawsuit is seeking relief from the courts as well as a jury trial, according to Daniels.
CNN reached out to Childersburg Mayor Ken Wesson and the Childersburg Police Department on Saturday for comment, but did not receive a response.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
