Denver City Council has given its unanimous approval for a hefty $4.7 million settlement. This payout is intended for over 300 Black Lives Matter protesters who were apprehended by the Denver Police Department during the George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020.
The lawsuit against the city alleged that the enforcement of the curfew was selectively targeted at Black Lives Matter protesters, thereby infringing upon their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Elizabeth Wang, the lead attorney for the protesters, underscored the significance of the settlement in preserving the First Amendment. She argued the U.S. Constitution does not permit police to clear the streets of protesters simply because they disagree with their message.
A concerned citizen reported a "mass killing" at a British seaside café. Police found a yoga class. https://t.co/wPoVBMfx3J
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 7, 2023
However, the Denver Police Department has refuted these allegations, denying any violation of constitutional rights.
Despite this, the City and County of Denver agreed to the settlement in a federal class action lawsuit filed on behalf of the arrested individuals.
The total amount expected for class members ranges from approximately $3 million to $3.5 million, with the remaining funds allocated to attorneys’ fees, costs, and settlement administration expenses.
This settlement follows a series of similar payouts across the country. Charlie Kirk, Founder & CEO of TPUSA, highlighted this growing trend. He pointed out that cities like Philadelphia and New York are paying out more than $9 million and $13 million respectively.
Overall, he estimates that more than $80 million will be paid out across over 20 U.S. cities.
Police interrupted a peaceful yoga class after people seen lying on the floor were mistaken for a "mass killing" https://t.co/uOlWExj3cv
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 7, 2023
Kirk expressed concern over the potential implications of these settlements.
He argued rewarding and subsidizing criminality could lead to an increase in such behavior. Kirk also questioned the future of Democratic cities, suggesting they could become crime-infested and drug-riddled as a result of these actions.
In addition to the $4.7 million settlement, Denver has also made other significant payouts related to the George Floyd protests.
This includes a $14 million payout to 12 injured protesters from last year, which is currently under federal court appeal, and a separate $1.6 million settlement to seven injured protesters earlier this year.
As more cities across the U.S. agree to similar payouts, the debate continues on the long-term implications of these decisions.
