Cops in Aurora, CO unleashed pepper spray at Elijah McClain‘s violin vigil for no good reason and their brutality was unprovoked … according to a family attorney who saw it all unfold alongside Elijah’s sisters.
Mari Newman, a lawyer for Elijah’s family, tells TMZ … she was at Saturday’s musical vigil for Elijah — who died while in custody of Aurora PD last year — in City Center Park, where police used pepper spray and force to clear the area of protesters, a response she says was brutal, totally uncalled for and outrageous.
Newman, who was at the vigil with Elijah’s 2 younger sisters, says protesters were chanting near the police station, but nothing was thrown at cops — which runs counter to what police say — and most people were just watching musicians play the violin … Elijah’s favorite instrument.
When police showed up in riot gear, Newman says they unleashed pepper spray, much to everyone’s surprise and for no good reason, sending everyone running … including her and her daughter, plus Elijah’s sisters.