CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM AND AGGRIEVED INDIVIDUALS FILE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF ANAHEIM, MAYOR OF ANAHEIM, ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANAHEIM POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND POLICE CHIEF
(Los Angeles, CA) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, yesterday filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleged to arise from the intentional, wilful, and unconstitutional refusal of Anaheim city officials to extend police protection to law-abiding American citizens in an attempt to “teach them a lesson” and silence them in retaliation for the lawful exercise of their First Amendment rights to speak, peaceably assemble, and petition the City of Anaheim and the Anaheim police department for a redress of grievances relating to illegal immigration. The case was filed on behalf of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform and several individuals, including senior citizens, who were violently attacked during a peaceful rally on the steps of Anaheim City Hall on December 8, 2001, by anarchists and other counter-demonstrators, as uniformed and other Anaheim police officers watched, refused to intervene, refused numerous pleas for help, refused to assist in making citizen’s arrests, refused to respond to emergency 911 calls, and showed contempt for the rule of law. The lawsuit names the City of Anaheim, the mayor, the city council members, the Anaheim police department, and the police chief as defendants. The lawsuit seeks general damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief for the future, and other remedies, pursuant to federal civil rights laws.
“This case resembles violent encounters during the civil rights movement of the 1960's, when government officials in some parts of the country refused to uphold the law and protect marchers from violence,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. “We are confident that justice will roll down like mighty waters, and that Anaheim will be held accountable under the rule of law for this outrage,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
James F. Marshall of Judicial Watch’s Western Regional Office in San Marino, California, is the lead attorney for this action on behalf of the plaintiffs.
