Monday, a lawsuit involving the City of Memphis and the use of police surveillance goes to trial in federal court. The result could mean big changes for the Memphis Police Department.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the city for surveillance of groups like Black Lives Matter and the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, which they say violates a court order from 40 years ago.
The hearing Monday, stems from a black list, created by the City of Memphis last year. The list included people not allowed in City Hall without an escort. Last month, the City of Memphis released documents that showed why the increased security was necessary. However, the ACLU argues moves like that one and surveillance of people’s social media sites are violations of people’s first amendment rights.
Local 24 News spoke to Coalition of Concerned Citizens founder, Keedran Franklin. Franklin says Memphis Police have been monitoring him for quite some time.
“I know they have. Even outside of Facebook. Like I said there are records, lawyers have records of me showing proof of the police being in front of my union hall, following us,” Keedran explained.
He is one of multiple people in the center of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against the City of Memphis. The suit claims the city and its police department unfairly conducted social media surveillance on Memphians and protestors. Franklin is expected to take the stand Monday.
“Going in there, head held high and walking on the shoulders of my ancestors who’s been done like this,” Franklin said.
The ACLU says the City of Memphis violated a 1978 consent decree and infringed on people’s free speech rights. Memphis Police Director, Michael Rallings says monitoring the public’s social media posts is simply good police work and he also called the terms “spying” and “surveillance” inaccurate. Some community members disagree.
“They were coming into churches where we were filming us. We have them on record doing this to us and how can he dare open his mouth to say that wasn’t spying? That violates us,” said Al Lewis, Co-founder of Coalition of Concerned Citizens.
Although a federal judge ruled the City of Memphis violated the consent order last week, the judge wants to hear testimonies to decide if the ruling needs to be changed to include social media, the internet and modern technology.
“Just because something is dated does not mean that it is not valid. I mean our entire country runs on the constitution, right,” said Hunter Demster. “Are those invalid because they are old? No, everything relates to today. “
Director Rallings maintains his officers will follow the judge’s order. He says it’s his job to find a way to balance public safety.
Monday’s hearing starts at 9:00 a.m.
To read Director Michael Ralling’s statement in full about the ACLU of Tennessee, Inc. vs. the City of Memphis lawsuit click here.
