Triangle Foundation/ACLU File Federal Lawsuit Against City of Detroit
Police Department
Triangle Foundation v. City of Detroit
Remarks of Jeffrey Montgomery, Executive Director of Triangle Foundation,
December 17, 2001
Press Conference with ACLU of Michigan Announcing the filing of a Federal
Court lawsuit against the Detroit Police Department
So why are we here?
We’re here today to protect civil rights —that’s the short answer.
We’re here —and now in Federal Court—because of outrageous police
activity and behavior; police profiling; an overactive prosecutor; and to
combat homophobia.
We’re here in a much broader sense because now, today, more than ever,
someone has to monitor and cal out examples and instances of abuse of
authority —abuse of public trust.
Law enforcement -from the U.S. Attorney General on down the line—has
sought and to a large extent has been granted some very far-reaching powers
since 9-11. We all need to be sure that law enforcement is deserving of our
trust. In the case of the Detroit Police and Wayne County Prosecutor in these
instances, they have failed their test of trust.
We’re here to try and restore some of the damage done to the individual
men who have been victims of police abuse, as well a to redress the abuse of
public trust.
We need to acknowledge that not all entities in the City have collaborated
in this profiling. The City Council has been helpful in dealing with these
outrageous profiling and civil rights abuses. We thank Council and Are sorry
that others in leadership of the City —the Police and the Wayne County
Prosecutor-have not shared in finding a solution; but then they are the
problem.
(For photos visit www.tri.org or to see
the case visit www.aclumich.org)
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