Civil rights lawsuit by Saratoga Black Lives Matter founder against city can proceed

A lawsuit brought by the leader of Saratoga Black Lives Matter, claiming his constitutional rights were infringed upon, is moving forward — but without one of the parties.

Lexis Figuereo has filed a federal lawsuit against the Saratoga Springs Police Department, then-Mayor Meg Kelly, then-Police Chief Shane Crooks and other city officials.

At issue is a protest that occurred on July 30, 2020 against racial injustice in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

The protest took place in Congress Park, on Broadway and in front of Saratoga Springs City Hall. Protesters were near and in the street.

The lawsuit says that the officers on the scene grabbed protesters and shot pepper balls and projectiles. Figuereo was hit several times, including in the arm, causing extreme pain and discomfort. It also made it difficult for him to breathe and triggered an asthma attack.

Figuereo claims that city officials were “openly hostile to the emergence and growth of a national racial justice and police accountability movement in the Spring and Summer of 2020.”

He also alleges that there was “selective enforcement.” There was a “Back the Blue” counterdemonstration that wasn’t targeted – even though he says some protesters were openly hostile and threatening the racial justice protesters.

Police made three arrests and then withdrew from the demonstrations.

Saratoga Springs officials had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In a decision dated Feb. 11, U.S. District Judge Anne Nardacci ruled that it can proceed.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office was also named as a party in the lawsuit, but Nardacci dismissed it. The agency provided backup at the scene of protests, but she ruled there was not sufficient evidence to support a claim they violated Figuereo’s rights.

Saratoga Black Lives Matter also filed a lawsuit against Saratoga Springs officials.