Last week, Kansas Appleseed, in collaboration with the ACLU of Kansas and pro bono firm Shook Hardy & Bacon, won an important victory for the people of Wichita.
Their settlement in the class action lawsuit Progeny v. City of Wichita against the unconstitutional “Gang List” maintained by the Wichita Police Department, marks a turning point: For too long, the Wichita Police Department’s Gang Unit operated with unchecked authority, labeling individuals as “gang members” or “gang associates” based on criteria so broad and vague they ensnared everyday behaviors and appearances.
The settlement reached earlier last week requires substantial reforms to protect the constitutional rights of the city residents, including the elimination of the “gang associates” and “inactive” gang member categories, a mandatory notification to those added to the Gang List, and the creation of processes for finding out and appealing one’s status and inclusion on the Gang List.
Kansas Appleseed’s success in this case is a vivid illustration of the impact that diligent, principled advocacy can have on protecting civil liberties. It exemplifies the ethos of the Appleseed Network: a belief in the power of collective action to foster systemic change and uphold the rights of individuals and communities against unjust practices.
