Two freelance photographers, Alyssa Schukar and Scott Olson, have filed a federal lawsuit against the police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, alleging that they were unlawfully shot with rubber bullets during a protest over police racism in 2020. The lawsuits were filed on July 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Both photographers claim that their civil rights were violated by law enforcement while they were documenting the demonstrations.
These protests were a response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who was left paralyzed when Kenosha Police officer Rusten Sheskey shot him in the back seven times during a domestic incident on August 23, 2020. Schukar, a photographer based in Washington, D.C., was on assignment for The New York Times when she claims she was unlawfully shot by police with rubber bullets on August 25. Olson was working for Getty Images at the time, according to the lawsuits.
In their lawsuits, both plaintiffs claim that they were injured during the incident, which they believe violated their First, Fourth, and 14th Amendment rights. Schukar states that she was struck in the hand by rubber bullets, requiring surgery and physical therapy. Olson alleges that he was struck in the head.
The photographers argue that the excessive force and unconstitutional constraint on their rights resulted in physical injuries and emotional distress. They are seeking punitive damages and legal fees. They also accuse the local government of failing to properly train and supervise law enforcement officers. Specifically, they point to Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, former Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis, and Waukesha County Sheriff Eric J. Severson, who they claim had final responsibility for the policies and procedures of their departments during the incident.
Additionally, the plaintiffs allege that their constitutional rights to free speech and due process were violated. The defendants listed in the lawsuit include the Kenosha County Sheriff, the former Kenosha Police Chief, the Waukesha County Sheriff, and unidentified police officers.
An attorney representing Kenosha County in the lawsuit stated that the journalists have the right to avail themselves of the legal system. The Epoch Times has reached out to the attorney for further comment.
The Department of Justice closed its federal probe into the police shooting of Jacob Blake in October 2021. No charges were filed against officer Rusten Sheskey after prosecutors found insufficient evidence of willful excessive force during the incident.
On August 23, 2020, police were initially called to a residence in Kenosha after a woman accused Jacob Blake of having sexual relations with her without her consent. When officers attempted to arrest him, Blake refused to cooperate and tried to escape in a car. Officer Sheskey shot him to prevent him from leaving the scene, resulting in him being paralyzed from the waist down.
Attorneys for Jacob Blake filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Officer Sheskey but later dropped it. It is unclear if a settlement was reached. The sexual assault charges against Blake were also dropped as part of a plea deal.
In conclusion, Alyssa Schukar and Scott Olson have filed a lawsuit against the police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, alleging that they were unlawfully shot with rubber bullets while documenting a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The photographers claim that their civil rights were violated, and they are seeking punitive damages and legal fees. The Department of Justice previously closed its federal probe into the police shooting, and no charges were filed against the officer involved.
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