LEXINGTON, Miss. (WJTV) – Legal action has been taken against the City of Lexington and its police department.

The civil rights group JULIAN filed the lawsuit that accused officials of police violence and harassment against Black residents.

Some of the claims included discriminatory treatment, excessive force, and racially biased policing in violation of the 14th Amendment.

“It’s been a lot of very consistent oversight on JULIAN’s part, being on the phone with community members, giving our number out and talking to community members. I think the most important thing is galvanizing the community to want to do something about it. In Lexington, it’s been very consistent about the fact that they care and that they want the community to be better,” said Kaiden Love, a regional director for JULIAN.

The lawsuit names the city’s current mayor, as well as the former police chief and current police chief.

WJTV 12 News reached out to Lexington’s mayor and police department for a statement, and no one was available to talk.