Black-Led Group Sues Boston Marathon Organizers And Local Police Department For Alleged Racial Discrimination
The 2024 Boston Marathon began earlier this morning, but the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A., the event organizers) also had a less joyful matter on their minds.
A Black-led running group called "TrailblazHers Run Co." has filed a lawsuit alleging that they were racially discriminated against by the B.A.A. and the Newton, MA, police department (NPD) at last year’s race. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in federal court in Boston by Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR).
"Today, we send a clear message to the BAA and to all police departments along the Marathon route: the law does not tolerate racial profiling," Mirian Albert, senior staff attorney at LCR, said in a statement on Friday. "We are prepared to seek immediate court intervention if BAA or local police engage in the type of discriminatory conduct that spectators of color endured last year in Newton."
Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the Professional Men's Division at the 128th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)
The B.A.A. has yet to make a detailed response to the lawsuit.
"We are confident that the B.A.A. and our partners are prepared for a Boston Marathon that is welcoming to the 30,000 participants, spectators and eight cities and towns along the route," the organization said on Friday. "We are focused on creating a joyous experience for all. While the B.A.A. is aware of the complaint, we have not yet had the opportunity to review it."
The Lawsuit Claims Officers Created A Barrier Around Two Primarily Black Groups Because Of Their Skin Color
Last year, Newton police responded to complaints about two primarily Black running groups playing loud music at mile 21 of the race, known as "Heartbreak Hill." The groups were TrailblazHers and PIONEERS Run Crew.
Additionally, these groups crossing over a rope barrier and interacting with the runners, prompting a response from the NPD.
"After being notified by the B.A.A. three times about spectators traversing the rope barrier and impeding runners, the Newton Police Department responded respectfully and repeatedly requesting that spectators stay behind the rope and not encroach onto the course," the NPD said in a statement last year. "When spectators continued to cross the rope, NPD with additional officers calmly used bicycles for a short period to demarcate the course and keep both the runners and spectators safe."
However, Mike Remy of PIONEERS (another group involved in the situation in question) said that the officers discriminated against these groups because of their skin color. Shortly after last year’s race, he released a video on his YouTube channel detailing his group’s side of the story.
"We were having so much fun," Remy said last year. "And that all kind of came to an abrupt stop."
The lawsuit alleges that other groups of non-Black spectators were not monitored in the same way that TrailblazHers and PIONEERS were. Additionally, it stated that more officers were stationed behind the mostly Black cheering section, forming a makeshift barricade.
"What ensued was alarming: multiple hours of police barricades, surveillance, harassment, and escalation, when the NPD – upon BAA request and approval – targeted the Black spectators and formed a human barricade separating them from the course," LCR said. "Police physically separated the Plaintiffs and their members from runners, obstructed their view, and prevented them from seeing passing runners."
Newton police chief John Carmichael contested this version of events, saying he does not believe the group’s lawsuit and believed his department handled the situation in the best way possible.
"I unequivocally contest the document’s substance as presented," he said. "I stand by my decisions that day, and more importantly, I stand by our officers who acted appropriately, respectfully and as expected. This year we will again be focused on ensuring everyone stays safe on Marathon Monday and I look forward to a great event for all."
The 128th marathon was much more drama free, and saw 33-year-old Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia win the men’s race with an unofficial time of 2:06:18. The women’s race was won by Hellen Obiri in a time of 2:22:37.