Milwaukee County supervisor sues MPD, claims curfews during George Floyd protests were illegal

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County Supervisor Ryan Clancy says videos he took of confrontations between Milwaukee protesters and police following George Floyd's death show the flaws of a curfew system.

"Curfews do not work," Clancy said at a press conference Friday, June 4. "From my experience, both a legal observer and looking at the data, they make things worse."

Clancy filed a lawsuit regarding protests on May 31 of 2020, claiming law enforcement tried to direct protesters from Shorewood, which had no curfew, to Milwaukee, where they could be arrested.

Clancy took videos of the incident and said he was following directives like the other protesters.

"We were just standing on the sidewalk, filming what was going on, when we were tackled and abused at the hands of the police."

Clancy said Mayor Tom Barrett cannot legally order a curfew without Milwaukee Common Council approval.

Clancy's goal is to change the curfew system in Wisconsin. Protesters said the curfews left a mental scar in both Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.

"I had to rush home, essentially, not realizing that the curfew was going on, and it was the most dystopian thing I had ever seen in my life," activist Omar Flores said. "Helicopters all over the place."

Clancy's attorneys say police claim there is no body camera footage of his arrest and they're asking the public for help.

"If you have video, audio or any type of information, please reach out to us," Attorney Edgar Lin said.

The Milwaukee Police Department, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's office all said they could not comment on pending litigation.