Judge permits DOJ report on Phoenix police to be used in protest lawsuit

A judge has allowed a Department of Justice report on Phoenix police to be used as evidence in a civil trial involving two protesters. Jorge Soria and Phil Martinez claim their First Amendment rights were violated during their arrests in July 2019. The DOJ report criticizes Phoenix police for targeting protesters and highlights Soria and Martinez's arrests as examples. The report states that Soria was arrested while speaking to a reporter, despite other protesters being allowed to leave. Phoenix's attorneys argue that the arrests were justified, claiming the protesters refused to disperse. The trial began on January 7 and is expected to continue until January 15.