Black Man Mistaken for Shooter by Cowboy-Clad Vigilantes Files Lawsuit

Lawsuit Alleges Racial Profiling and Assault

• 🎯 Keviantae Hill, a Black man visiting the Lane County Fair in Oregon, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging he was racially profiled, assaulted, and detained by armed vigilantes.
• 🤠 These vigilantes, part of the local sheriff's civilian "posse," were dressed in cowboy attire and mistook Hill for a suspect in a shooting that occurred the previous night.

The Incident at the Fair

• 🚶‍♂️ After taking a break, Hill and his friends re-entered the fair, and two men in a golf cart began following him, demanding to speak with him without identifying themselves.
• 🏃‍♂️ When one man grabbed his arm and another placed a hand on a visible gun, Hill, fearing for his safety and experiencing an asthma attack, fled.
• 🐎 The lawsuit states that two mounted posse members chased Hill for several blocks, attempting to ram him with a golf cart before tackling him and forcing him face down to the ground.

Allegations of Excessive Force and Negligence

• suffocating Hill was knelt on for several minutes, gasping for air and repeatedly saying "I can't breathe," and vomited red fluid.
• 🚫 The posse members allegedly refused to call 911, seek medical assistance, or allow Hill to call someone.
• 📸 Despite being informed by police that Hill was not a suspect, the posse members persisted in restraining him, photographing him without consent, and he lost consciousness shortly after being released.

Discrepancies and Legal Claims

• ❓ The lawsuit notes that the shooting suspect was described as a white man in a red hat, and the only connection to Hill was a car seen with two other white men and a Black man.
• ⚖️ The lawsuit accuses the sheriff's posse, the fairboard, and a private security firm of false arrest, excessive force, assault, battery, negligence, and violating Oregon's biased crime law.

Commentary on Vigilantism and Racial Profiling

• 🗣️ The discussion highlights the dangers of vigilantism, even when individuals are deputized, emphasizing that it should be left to trained professionals.
• 💭 Concerns are raised about racial profiling and the "hunting season" mentality, where Black individuals are often the targets of suspicion and unwarranted action.
• 警 The hosts express that the case appears winnable and lament the unnecessary harm and humiliation Hill endured, questioning why the volunteers are not facing more severe consequences.