Arizona police charged protesters as a "criminal street gang"

Police in Phoenix, Arizona called leaders of a peaceful protest in October 2020 "targets" while surveilling them with drones, cameras, and vehicles. ABC15 found that police and prosecutors collaborated to charge protesters as a "criminal street gang". Although the charges were later dropped, protest leaders said they had a chilling effect on later protests and caused them to change tactics.

https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/protest-arrests/phoenix-police-called-protesters-targets-during-surveillance-before-arrests

Writer: Zach Crenshaw

Publication: ABC News