Lawsuit Claims KCK Police Violated Civil Rights

A black family and two of their friends have filed a federal lawsuit against Kansas City, Kan., police over a 2005 incident that started when officers broke up a birthday party.


The lawsuit claims the six officers violated the plaintiffs' civil rights when they forced their way into the family's duplex, demanded that people leave and fought with the residents. Members of the Hamilton family said the white officers used racial slurs, punched and kicked them and hit them with flashlights.


"What right do the police have to shut down a birthday party where nothing illegal is going on?" said Arthur Benson, attorney for the nine plaintiffs, who filed their lawsuit late Wednesday evening. "And when the kids ask why, instead of getting answers they get struck, hit, kicked and pepper sprayed.


"This whole thing was just a travesty of law enforcement, and the victims are now fighting back by filing their lawsuit today."


Plaintiff Gerene Hamilton, whose duplex was the scene of the party, said her family decided to stand up for themselves and anyone who's ever felt wronged by police.


"There's so many minorities, so many low-income people who have been hurt by police officers," she said. "And you continue to see it go on."


The night of Nov. 18, 2005, Hamilton said she agreed to let her granddaughter, Tyeasha, who had turned 18, entertain friends and other family members in the basement. Hamilton, who was at work until about 11 p.m., said she arrived home to find the gathering "quiet and under control."


"The party was quiet. There was no illegal activity and these police officers simply don't have the right to show up at the party, barge in and declare the party over," Benson said.

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