*JAY-Z’s social justice arm, Team ROC, has taken legal action to support five women who say they were victims of years-long abuse at the hands of law enforcement in Kansas City, Kansas. On Thursday, the organization filed an amicus brief in appellate court after a federal district court dismissed a 2023 lawsuit filed by the women, per the news release.
The plaintiffs, Michelle Houcks, Saundra Newsom, Niko Quinn, Ophelia Williams, and Richelle Miller, allege that former KCKPD officer Roger Golubski, who is now deceased, along with other officers, subjected them to assault, rape, harassment, and extortion. They argue the KCK government enabled this misconduct for decades by fostering a culture of impunity.
The initial case was thrown out based on statute of limitations grounds, with the court asserting that the claims had been filed too late. However, the legal brief filed by Team ROC contends that the women were unable to come forward while Golubski was alive due to fear and the extensive influence he held in the community.
“This isn’t just about one corrupt officer or department — it’s about protecting communities across the country from institutional misconduct by state officials,” said Dania Diaz, Managing Director of Team ROC.
“Setting the right example in places like Kansas City, Kansas — where community members have been subject to decades of harm — is critical to ensure that government officials are being transparent and will be called to answer for their conduct if they violate the law.”
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Nine legal experts and advocacy groups joined Team ROC in filing the brief, including Angela T. Rye of IMPACT Strategies, Barry Scheck of the Innocence Project, the Terence Crutcher Foundation, and others. Together, they are calling for the appellate court to reverse the dismissal and allow the women to proceed with their case in federal court.
If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could set a national precedent, potentially expanding legal pathways for victims of government and law enforcement abuse who were previously unable to come forward due to fear or systemic barriers.
In conjunction with the legal filing, Team ROC released a new episode of its podcast “Corruption Uncovered,” which explores the decades-long misconduct tied to Golubski and the KCKPD. The episode highlights the personal accounts of the five women and their ongoing fight for justice.
More information about the case and the podcast is available at kckpdcorruption.info.
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