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Seattle Protesters Win $700K for Chalk Messages on Police Barricades

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Seattle, WA – A Seattle court has awarded $700,000 to five protesters who were jailed after writing anti-police messages in chalk on a city barricade. The decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing discussions about free speech and the treatment of protesters by law enforcement agencies. The protesters had used chalk, a temporary and non-destructive material, to express dissent against police actions and policies. Their arrest raised concerns over First Amendment rights, especially concerning peaceful forms of protest. Legal experts suggest that the case might set a precedent for how non-violent protest activities are … Read more

Seattle Protesters Win $700K in Landmark Case Over Chalked Anti-Policing Messages

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Seattle, WA — In a verdict that underscores the tensions between police conduct and protest rights, a Seattle jury has awarded $700,000 to three protesters who were jailed after using chalk to write anti-police messages on a public barricade. This decision marks a significant moment in ongoing national debates over free speech and law enforcement’s response to civil dissent. The case stemmed from incidents during the heightened protests in Seattle, which were part of the larger national uprising against police brutality following the death of George Floyd in 2020. The demonstrators, whose chalked slogans included … Read more

Seattle Protesters Win $700K for Chalk Anti-Policing Messages: A Victory for Free Speech

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Seattle, WA — In a landmark legal decision, a jury awarded $700,000 to five protesters who claimed their civil rights were violated when they were detained for writing anti-police messages with chalk on a public barricade. The protesters, who were involved in a peaceful rally in Seattle, argued that their arrest amounted to unlawful suppression of free speech. The group, detained during the height of the protests in June 2020, painted phrases critical of police conduct. Legal representatives for the plaintiffs argued that the use of chalk, a temporary and non-destructive medium, underscored the disproportionality … Read more

Protesters Win $700K in Civil Rights Case Over Anti-Police Chalk Messages Near Seattle Precinct

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Seattle, WA — In a landmark case that spotlighted issues of civil liberties amid protests, a federal jury has awarded nearly $700,000 to four protesters who alleged their civil rights were violated by Seattle police. The individuals, arrested on New Year’s Day in 2021 for using chalk to create anti-police messages on a barricade near a police precinct, claimed their treatment stemmed from their participation in Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The incident occurred against the backdrop of widespread protests that ignited across many cities globally, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death, … Read more