URGENT UPDATE: A federal judge has just granted class-action status to the lawsuit involving 113 adults and children detained by the San Francisco Police Department during the controversial 2023 Dolores Park “hill bomb” skateboarding event. This pivotal ruling allows all affected individuals to sue the city collectively, intensifying the legal battle over the mass arrests that occurred on July 8, 2023.
The decision is a significant moment for the plaintiffs, as it opens the door to potentially larger compensation following a settlement or jury verdict. The lawsuit, initially filed by four teenagers in December 2023, now includes 81 minors who were caught in what many are calling an unlawful police operation. The scene, which was part of an informal skateboarding competition, has drawn considerable scrutiny due to previous incidents of conflict between law enforcement and participants.
Attorney Rachel Lederman, representing the plaintiffs through the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, condemned the mass arrests, describing it as an “outrageous round-up.” She stated,
“They kettled them between police lines and arrested them unlawfully, without a reasonable basis to believe that they had committed crimes.”
These arrests have raised serious concerns about the tactics used by the police, particularly regarding the treatment of minors.
Reports indicate that many of the detained children were merely passing through the park and were swept up in a police dragnet. Disturbingly, some minors were reportedly held for hours in cold conditions, with accounts of boys having to urinate in a bucket provided by a neighbor, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The city’s attorney, Jen Kwart, defended the SFPD’s actions, asserting that they were necessary for public safety during the event.
The implications of this lawsuit extend beyond individual compensation. Should the plaintiffs win, the financial burden could significantly impact San Francisco’s budget, as any monetary judgment would be drawn from the city’s general fund. This comes after the city has already incurred costs of $143,000 in police overtime related to the incident.
As the case moves forward, the focus will be on the potential violations of local, state, and federal laws that the plaintiffs allege. The outcome could set a precedent for how the city handles similar events in the future. Following the backlash from the 2023 Hill Bomb, police strategies have already shifted; the subsequent 2024 Hill Bomb saw preemptive measures taken to manage crowd control more effectively.
This developing story promises to resonate widely, highlighting issues of police conduct, youth rights, and community safety. As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes will be on San Francisco to see how this pivotal case impacts both the city and its residents. Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to evolve.
