ATLANTA — Attorneys announced Thursday they will be filing a lawsuit on behalf of a dental hygienist who was body-slammed during protests last year by an Atlanta Police officer at Lenox Square.
Amber Jackson, who underwent surgery to repair her broken clavicle, is being represented by attorney Mawuli Davis. The suit is being brought against the City of Atlanta and two officers.
"As we stated when we filed the lawsuit in the death of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner earlier this month, June will be a month of reckoning for the city of Atlanta," Davis said in the press release. "The brutal actions of this officer severely injured Ms. Jackson,"
On May 29, 2020, Jackson was headed to her car after protesting the death of George Floyd when the altercation began. Police officers said she was trying to move a barricade and refused to leave her vehicle. In an effort to remove her from her car, the police officer body-slammed Jackson, resulting in her broken clavicle.
The officer was placed on desk assignment following the incident.
A press conference was held Friday afternoon where attorneys for Jackson showed video of the incident where she was slammed to the ground. The woman who witnessed the incident, Heather Uphan, said she felt that something wasn't right so she decided to record what was happening.
"It's not OK," she said.
“This is the exact reason we’re all protesting," she added. ” “She could have been easily the next George Floyd."
The suit alleges the officer used excessive force. They are seeking damages because of the alleged misconduct.
“Without the citizen capturing video, this would have been swept up under the rug," Davis said.
Jackson's lawyers also claim the city has a pattern of not investigating excessive force and that the city fails to train officers. They plan on providing the information they've gathered to the district attorney's office.