Activists sue St. Paul over RNC raid

Three activists have sued the city of St. Paul over a home raid executed a couple of days before last year's Republican National Convention.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court, accuses officers of violating the activists' constitutional rights when they searched a duplex rented by one of the individuals.

Attorney Rachel E.B. Lang, who is representing the activists, said officers detained several people who were in the house but did not take any property or arrest anyone.

"Over a dozen police stormed a house with not only guns drawn, but also semi-automatic weapons, and they did not have a search warrant with them when they stepped on the yard and came to the door," Lang said.

Lang claims her clients were targeted for their political views.

The suit has also named more than a dozen St. Paul police officers, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department, and the FBI as defendants.

St. Paul's city attorney said he will review the complaint and forward it to the insurance company handling the city's defense.

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