An anti-abortion group has filed a federal lawsuit claiming Birmingham police violated members' civil rights in arrests last year outside Parker High School.
The group also wants a court order that would prevent Birmingham police from interfering with future protests on public property. The group notes in the lawsuit that some members plan to come to Birmingham the week of July 19.
Survivors, a non-profit group based in California, filed the lawsuit against seven Birmingham police officers Friday in U.S. District Court.
Nine members of Survivors were arrested Feb. 12, 2009 as they set up displays outside the school as part of their Campus Life Tour. The traveling displays include "graphic images of abortion, descriptions of fetal development and abortion techniques, and factual consequences of abortion," according to the group's website.
Six members of Survivors are named plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Among the group's claims are that they were legally on the sidewalk when they were arrested; a van was damaged as it was being towed away; and an SD card used to store video recordings was damaged when it was returned. The lawsuit claims interference with their rights of free speech, peaceful assembly, and free exercise of religion, as well as unreasonable search and seizure.
The lawsuit also claims jail guards taunted female members of the group about abortion. One officer also told them that they were a "bunch of white people" and they shouldn't have expected anything different when they went to a black high school, the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit seeks damages of no less than $50,000 per plaintiff , other unspecified special or punitive damages, a declaration that their rights were violated, and asks that a judge issue an order against the police department to keep police interfering with protests by the group on public sidewalks or public right of ways in Birmingham.
A Birmingham police spokesman declined to make an immediate comment on the suit.