[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/police-brutality-during-protests-know-your-rights\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/police-brutality-during-protests-know-your-rights\/","headline":"Police Brutality During Protests: Know Your Rights","name":"Police Brutality During Protests: Know Your Rights","description":"Peaceful protesting is one of our First Amendment rights. Unfortunately, many protests have been met with violent and disproportionate responses from law enforcement. If you or a loved one has experienced police violence against protesters, you have rights \u2014 and an experienced civil rights and criminal...","datePublished":"2025-07-15","dateModified":"2025-07-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/#Person","name":"Brian Zeiger, LLC","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Zeiger Firm","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","width":257,"height":59}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Police-Brutality-During-Protest.jpg","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Police-Brutality-During-Protest.jpg","height":668,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/police-brutality-during-protests-know-your-rights\/","about":["Police Brutality"],"wordCount":565,"articleBody":"Peaceful protesting is one of our First Amendment rights. Unfortunately, many protests have been met with violent and disproportionate responses from law enforcement. If you or a loved one has experienced police violence against protesters, you have rights \u2014 and an experienced civil rights and criminal defense attorney can help to hold law enforcement accountable.What Constitutes Police Brutality at a Protest?Police brutality can take many forms, especially during protests. Some of the most common include the following:Excessive Force \u2013 Officers are only permitted to use proportionate force for the specific situation. When they use batons or tasers on peaceful protesters, this could be deemed excessive force.Unlawful Arrests \u2013 If you\u2019re arrested without probable cause, such as simply for being present during a protest or recording police activity, that arrest could be unlawful.Use of Tear Gas or Rubber Bullets \u2013 Though tear gas and rubber bullets are considered \u201cnon-lethal,\u201d these crowd control methods can cause serious injuries. Additionally, they\u2019re not always deployed lawfully. Indiscriminate or excessive use can violate the Constitution, particularly if used against nonviolent demonstrators.In short, police must avoid retaliating against protesters for merely expressing their views. This includes using force to silence dissent or punish demonstrators for criticizing law enforcement.Steps to Take After an Incident of Police MisconductIf you were harmed or witnessed police brutality at a protest, you must act quickly to protect your rights and build a strong legal case. The following points explain what to do if police use excessive force at a protest:Seek Medical Attention \u2013 Your health is your top priority. Even if your injuries seem minor, get checked out. Medical records can also serve as important evidence.Document Everything \u2013 Write down what happened as soon as you can. Include dates, times, badge numbers, and witness names. If possible, take photos of injuries, clothing, or the protest location. Back up all photos and videos. If someone else recorded what happened, ask them for a copy. Social media posts or livestreams may also be helpful.File a Complaint \u2013 You can file a formal complaint with the police department\u2019s internal affairs division or civilian review board. While this step doesn\u2019t guarantee you\u2019ll get a positive result, it at least creates a record of the misconduct.Talk to a Lawyer \u2013 Having legal representation to help you is key, especially for an arrest at a protest. Your attorney can advise you on how to proceed without jeopardizing your case.How a Police Brutality Lawyer Can Help Protect Your RightsA police brutality lawyer can help you seek to hold the police accountable. Depending on your situation, you may be able to file a claim in federal or state court. These claims often involve constitutional violations such as unlawful arrest, excessive force, or failure to intervene.Many police brutality cases result in settlements. A skilled attorney can negotiate assertively to secure the maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. If you were criminally charged, an attorney can fight to get the charges dismissed.If you\u2019ve experienced police brutality at a protest, know that you\u2019re not alone\u2014and you\u2019re not powerless. The Zeiger Firm\u2019s approach is aggressive and experienced, and we\u2019re ready to hold law enforcement accountable for police brutality. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn how we can help."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Police Brutality During Protests: Know Your Rights","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/police-brutality-during-protests-know-your-rights\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]