Civil Rights Lawyers Demand Investigation Of Newton Police After Video

NEWTON, MA – Lawyers for Civil Rights, a Boston-based law firm, has sent a letter to Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and Newton Police Chief John Carmichael demanding an independent investigation into surveillance and law enforcement tactics during the marathon.

In the letter, written on behalf of "spectators and runners affected by racial profiling against Black people that took place near Mile 21 in Newton," LCR officials ask for a public records request and an emergency meeting to discuss claims of racial discrimination.

LCR wrote in the letter they have received requests for legal assistance from both marathon spectators and runners who noted police officers targeting Black people at the marathon by forming a line in front of and in back of them, "giving the strong impression that the observers were not free to leave."

LCR officials called the police presence a "military-style formation of the police officers," and said the tactic was "an illegal seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment," according to the letter.

The public records requested by the law firm include:

• All records, including incident and police reports, related to the marathon held on April 17, 2023, including audio files and visual recordings. We are requesting public records surrounding police and surveillance activities along the entire route of the marathon in Newton, including the vicinity of Mile 21.
• All arrest records from April 17, 2023, including the race/ethnicity of the arrestee(s) and where the arrest occurred. We understand that sensitive personal identifying information may need redaction, but demographic and geographical information must be fully disclosed.

The firm also called for an investigation into the Newton Police Department’s surveillance tactics and law enforcement practices in connection with the marathon.

The letter was prompted by growing public outrage after a YouTube video showed a line of police using bicycles to block a group of primarily Black spectators at mile 21 in Newton during the Boston Marathon. The video has received increased attention on social media.

In the video, posted by Mike Remy, he asks police why they were lined up with their patrol bikes blocking the group of primarily Black spectators.

“Why are we surrounded by police?” Remy said in the video. “I don’t know what the presence is about.”

According to Boston 25 News, Newton Police wrote in a statement:

“After being notified by the B.A.A three times about spectators traversing the rope barrier and impeding runners, the Newton Police Department responded respectfully and repeatedly requesting that spectators stay behind the rope and not encroach onto the course. When spectators continued to cross the rope, NPD with additional officers calmly used bicycles for a short period to demarcate the course and keep both the runners and spectators safe.”