Judge upholds Occupy Philly suit against police
Police are shown arresting a member of Occupy Philly on Nov. 30, 2011, in Philadelphia, after a small group refused to clear a street while police cleared the encampment at Dilworth Plaza. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)
Occupy Philadelphia protesters can proceed with their lawsuit accusing police of unlawful arrest, retaliation and other civil rights violations, a judge has decided.
More than two dozen protesters filed suit after they were acquitted of criminal charges stemming from their November 2011 clash with police.
The clash came as city officials sought to move the protesters after seven weeks outside City Hall.
The demonstrators claimed Philadelphia police nonetheless arrested them after they complied and marched through downtown.
In a ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Berle Schiller dismissed their excessive force and illegal search claims for lack of evidence.
But Schiller upheld their retaliation, unlawful arrest, malicious prosecution and other claims.
A lawyer for the city did not immediately return a call for comment.
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