Civil rights lawsuit filed over Kenosha protester curfew arrests

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A civil rights lawsuit is being filed against the city of Kenosha and Kenosha County.

According to documents filed on Aug. 28, the plaintiffs state Kenosha police and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office have arrested more than 150 peaceful protesters for violating the curfew order, but have not arrested pro-police demonstrators for the same violation.

The documents filed state, “In Kenosha, there are two sets of laws - one that applies to those who protest police brutality and racism, and another for those who support the police. Plaintiffs bring this action to protect their right and the rights of others to protest police brutality free of retaliation and free from fear that they will be arrested solely on the basis of the content of their message.”

The four plaintiffs say they were arrested while protesting in Kenosha. The documents state the lawsuit is being filed for violations of the First Amendment and Equal Protection rights of peaceful demonstrators.

More can be read in the documents below: