Black Lives Matter Chicago Sues U.S. on Policing of Protests

(Bloomberg) -- Black Lives Matter and several other civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent federal agents from patrolling the streets of Chicago as promised by President Donald Trump.

Citing claims that federal agents abused protesters in Portland, Oregon, the groups said they fear they will be arrested or beaten without cause during their planned protests this weekend, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Chicago. Portland protesters said federal agents didn’t identify themselves.

Trump said Wednesday he will send federal law enforcement agents to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, to help address what he described as escalating violence in the cities. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she’d welcome the help provided the federal agents work in collaboration with local officials and not unilaterally.

Black Lives Matter and other groups said they are seeking a judicial order barring actions by federal agents that would interfere with the groups’ lawful protests, including conducting arrests without probable cause and keeping their identities secret.

The lawsuit names as defendants several federal officials, including Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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