Police Pepper-Sprayed Us for Celebrating Obama Win, Family Claims
Updated 1:43 PM CST, Thu, Jul 30, 2009
A hate crime lawsuit was filed this week against several Chicago police officers, accusing them of pepper-spraying a family group, including children, who were celebrating Barack Obama's win.
Christine Ballard and Cornelius Voss said they were driving with their children and other relatives on Election Night when an unmarked squad car passed them. The officers allegedly made some racial comments and pepper sprayed the group.
"At that point, I could not breathe, and that's when my kids started hollering ... 'Mommy, it's in my face, I can't see,'" Ballard said.
The group was treated at a local hospital, but they said police would not file a report. The lawsuit is also asking the Police Department to help determine who the officers were.
First Published: Nov 7, 2008 4:50 PM CST
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