How DC police’s response to protests in the early 2000’s still impacts the force today
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — As a pro-Palestine protest and encampment enters week two at George Washington University’s campus, the impact of several mass demonstrations more than two decades ago can still be felt.
“There were protests in Washington against the IMF and World Bank, against the austerity measures they imposed on people around the world and a lot of people came together in Washington for several days of peaceful protest,” explained Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, with the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund.
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But, it didn’t stay that way. The protests, which spanned April 15 through 17 of 2000, turned violent.
“You have all these people coming together and the police came up and just violated civil rights with extreme brutality,” said Verheyden-Hilliard.
Roughly 700 people were arrested during those three days. D.C. police used pepper spray on protesters and were seen wearing full riot gear.
“We’re doing the best we can here. The protesters come and surround us,” then police chief Charles Ramsey said.
Verheyden-Hilliard said what happened was “extreme repression.”
“We had incident where police charged protesters, sand beat them brutally with clubs breaking noses and teeth,” Verheyden-Hilliard said.
The group went on to sue the District of Columbia.
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Verheyden-Hilliard and the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund represented hundreds in a class action lawsuit arguing MPD falsely arrested people.
“They engaged in what we call ‘trap and detain’ where they circle people who are lawfully gathered and will not let them leave, they loaded them into the buses,” explained Verheyden-Hilliard. “They actually hogtied people in stress and duress positions for more than 24 hours.”
After years of litigation the lawsuit was settled in 2010 to the tune of $13.7 million.
The lawsuit, plus other similar ones filed over the span of a few years, led to major reform in the District.
In 2004, council passed the First Amendment Rights and Standards Act. The legislation prohibits the use of a police line to encircle protestors unless MPD has probable cause to arrest and has decided to arrest; requires training for officers who handle first amendment gatherings; and requires police to have a policy to ensure officers properly identify themselves at protests, among other things.
The law was enacted in 2005 and is still in effect today.
“That law set the stage and tone for I think what we’re seeing today with the GW protesters,” said Verheyden-Hilliard.
She admits the law hasn’t been followed perfectly as protesters were met with brutality in 2020 while demonstrating against racism in policing. But, Verheyden-Hilliard said it has helped protect the rights of protesters.
A spokesperson with MPD told DC News Now that the agency’s approach for mass demonstrations today is still based on the 2005 law.
Despite criticism for D.C. police to sweep the encampment at GW, Verheyden-Hilliard said there’s no basis for it.
“These are peaceful protesters who are standing up for what they believe in,” she said. There is no basis for D.C. police to sweep them from D.C. streets and sidewalks.”
The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund is currently assisting protesters at the encampment and encampments elsewhere, with legal help. For more information, click here.
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