As the top law enforcement officer in the county, Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan must IMMEDIATELY act to ensure all charges against the Quakertown 5 are dropped, and Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree is thoroughly investigated and held accountable.

As of Thursday, February 26, multiple students are under house arrest with ankle monitors and facing felony charges as a result of Chief McElree's excessive use of force, while one student is still in custody nearly a week after the incident.

No evidence has been publicly presented to support the police account of the incident, while witnesses and cameras recording from multiple angles back up the students' version of events. Here's what we know from publicly-available evidence:

On Friday, February 20, students at Quakertown High School walked out of class to protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

As students exercised their first amendment rights, Quakertown Chief of Police and Burough Manager Scott McElree rushed into a group of high school students in plainclothes, grabbed a young woman by the throat and put her in a choke hold. According to witnesses, Scott McElree did not identify himself, and students were not aware that he was a police officer. Students rushed to the defense of their classmate, and are now being charged with aggravated assault by the Bucks County District Attorney.

Chief McElree's excessive use of force is conduct unbecoming an officer. There is no threat to an officer and no justification for this use of force against a minor. While Pennsylvania has not yet acted statewide, cities like Philadelphia and governments across the country have banned the use of chokeholds by law enforcement. Mr. McElree demonstrated poor judgment and inflamed a situation when a law enforcement officer's duty is to deescalate, especially when minors are involved.

Send a letter to District Attorney Joe Khan and every member of his team to demand that all charges against the students are dropped, and thoroughly investigate Chief Scott McElree's use of force.