Civil rights lawsuit filed against Auraria Campus Police

DENVER — A Denver civil rights law firm filed a lawsuit on Wednesday on behalf of Auraria Campus students and faculty members, alleging their constitutional rights were violated when they were arrested by campus police during a protest on April 26, 2024.

The lawsuit named Auraria Campus Police Chief Jason Mollendor and six other officers, and was filed by Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC on behalf of Alex Boodrookas, Kyle Montanio, Sarah Napier, Alexandria Nickens, Elowyn Fahnestock, Spencer Pajk, Joie Ha and Harriet Falconette.

A spokesperson for the Auraria Campus said on Wednesday morning that officials were not aware of the lawsuit being filed and had not been served notice of any legal action.

The plaintiffs are seeking “compensatory damages” for “the violations of their constitutional rights, pain and suffering and other injuries,” according to the lawsuit.

“During the criminal process, law enforcement claimed that they were here simply to enforce a campus policy against camping,” said attorney Azra Taslimi at a news conference Wednesday morning. “Their actions tell a very different story.”

Last April, more than 200 protesters descended on the Auraria Campus, chanting anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans. Some of the demonstrators had set up a tent encampment on the quad, a violation of campus policy. Officials estimated that roughly half of the protesters were students.

To read the article in its entirety visit: https://denvergazette.com/news/courts/denver-auraria-protestors-file-lawsuit-campus-police/article_2e1e1b17-5331-4b0c-a9a3-956eed33b6f1.html?