Spectators encroach on the marathon course firing confetti cannon at previous race winner Des Linden; precipitating an escalating police response to the group as the day progressed.
Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston filed a federal discrimination lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts Thursday on behalf of TrailblazHers Run Co. The lawsuit is directed against “the BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, CITY OF NEWTON, and JOHN F. CARMICHAEL JR., Chief of Police of the Newton Police Department, in his official capacity.” In a press release, the running group stated it “is seeking to forestall a repeat of the racial profiling incident that occurred at the 2023 Boston Marathon” and “seeks redress for emotional distress and trauma caused by last year’s racial profiling incident.”
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs “seek to enjoin Defendants BAA and NPD from racially profiling and discriminating against them and seek damages to remedy past harms. Defendants’ conduct violated and – unless enjoined – will continue to violate, Plaintiffs’ rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; 42 U.S.C. § 1985’s prohibition against conspiracies to deprive individuals of their civil rights; and M.G.L. c. 272 s. 98’s prohibition on discrimination in public accommodations.” The financial damages sought are not specified in the filed document.
The episode at last year’s Boston Marathon began on Commonwealth Avenue just before the start of Heartbreak Hill, beginning at 11:40AM, in a moment captured by Fig City News, when members of the group encroached on the course and fired confetti canons in the path of Boston Marathon champion Des Linden (see photo above). The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) reported this incident through channels to the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (METRO-LEC) unit in charge of security on this portion of the course,…