A group of Chicago journalists and advocacy groups on Monday sued the Trump administration, arguing that federal agents used “extreme brutality” at local protests to silence the press and prevent civilians from exercising their First Amendment rights.
“Never in modern times has the federal government undermined bedrock constitutional protections on this scale or usurped states’ police power by directing federal agents to carry out an illegal mission against the people for the government’s own benefit,” the lawsuit reads.
The suit was filed by Block Club Chicago, the Chicago Headline Club and local labor unions representing Chicago-area journalists. A number of individual journalists and protestors also signed onto the legal action.