Suit accuses Compton school district of abuse, racial profiling
A group of parents and students have sued the Compton school district, alleging a pattern of abuse and racial profiling of Latinos by school police.
Victor Lopez, 21, a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the Compton Unified School District, stands near photos related to an incident in the suit. In the incident, school officers allegedly beat, pepper sprayed and used a chokehold on Lopez, who was taking video of an arrest on his iPod, and erased cellphone videos taken by students. (Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times / May 13, 2013) |
A group of parents and students have filed a federal lawsuit against the Compton school district alleging a pattern of abuse and racial profiling of Latinos by school police.
One family alleged that school police targeted a student's father for arrest and deliberately got him deported to Mexico after he filed a complaint against an officer.
In another incident, school officers allegedly beat, pepper sprayed and used a chokehold on a bystander who was taking video of an arrest on his iPod, and erased cellphone videos taken by students.
The complaint filed Monday also alleged that police used excessive force against students and parents who protested against district policies and complained that English as a Second Language programs were underfunded.
Attorney Martin Kaufman said the case points to an "organized attempt to discriminate against Latinos."
The lawsuit seeks $41.4 million in damages. It was filed on behalf of three parents, one student and