A federal judge is considering whether to send a class action lawsuit against the city of San Francisco to a jury trial. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 117 people, mostly children and teenagers, alleges that police violated their civil rights during the 2023 Dolores Hill Bomb incident.

The Incident

On July 8, 2023, a crowd of around 200 people gathered at Dolores Park for the annual skateboarding event. However, the event turned violent, with some members of the crowd throwing glass bottles and fireworks at police officers. One officer was reportedly stabbed in the head.

Police issued multiple orders to disperse, but a faction of the crowd refused to leave. The plaintiffs claim that police indiscriminately rounded up bystanders, including children and teenagers, and detained them for hours in abusive conditions without probable cause.

The Lawsuit

The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial, while the city’s attorneys want the judge to deliver a summary judgment. The city argues that police had the right to control the crowd and make arrests, while the plaintiffs claim that police did not appropriately assess who was a threat and instead targeted innocent bystanders.

The case raises questions about police accountability and the use of force during crowd control situations. The judge’s decision on whether to send the case to a jury trial could have significant implications for law enforcement and civil rights in San Francisco.

Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.