The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the City of Ferguson, Missouri, to force the city to reform its police department and court system after the government found both had violated citizens’ civil rights and were especially biased against minorities.
In announcing the lawsuit late Wednesday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said her department was forced to proceed with legal action after the Ferguson City Council voted unanimously the day before to revise a tentative agreement to reform the police and courts, which had been “painstakingly” negotiated between the DOJ and the city.
“A few weeks ago, the Department of Justice and Ferguson’s own negotiators came to an agreement that was both fair and cost-effective and that would provide all the residents of Ferguson the constitutional and effective policing and court practices guaranteed to all Americans,” Lynch said. “As agreed, it was presented to the Ferguson City Council for approval or rejection, and last night, the city council rejected the consent decree approved by their own negotiators. Their decision leaves us no further choice.”
