In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the nation erupted in protest. In Indianapolis, on the night of May 29th and early morning of May 30th of 2020, after a day of peaceful protestation, the IMPD fired multiple unprovoked volleys of tear gas into the crowd. The tactic created a panic, and as the indiscriminate gas and pepper ball attacks continued into the night, the downtown area devolved into a scene of absolute bedlam. The resulting chaos led to shootings, injuries, and property damage throughout the city. As the violence spilled over into the next day, Chris Beaty, a prominent and beloved Indianapolis businessman, was murdered.
Since that first night, the American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU) of Indiana has filed a lawsuit against IMPD on behalf of Indy10 Black Lives Matter for the use of tear gas and pepper balls as a means to thwart citizens’ constitutional rights.
Despite IMPD praise of these weapons as non-lethal and relatively harmless, countless injuries, maimings, collateral damage, and even death has resulted from their use. Additionally, the threat of the gas lingering in homes and permanent respiratory damage is also a concern.
As similar use of chemical weapons becomes commonplace throughout the nation, many have questioned the efficacy and ethics of such weapons, as the primary purpose for them is to limit violence not spark it.
