After protesters shut down the Golden Gate Bridge, the California Highway Patrol is considering charging them with felony conspiracy and false imprisonment, sparking concerns about the potential chilling effect on free speech. The ACLU and legal experts argue that while the government can place reasonable limits on protests for public safety, charging protesters with false imprisonment for blocking traffic may be excessive. The situation raises questions about the balance between exercising free speech and maintaining public safety.
The Supreme Court declined to hear Mckesson v. Doe, leaving intact a lower court decision that effectively eliminates the right to organize mass protests in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The decision holds protest organizers financially responsible for illegal acts committed by attendees, a ruling criticized for its potential to stifle political protests. The Court's inaction allows the Fifth Circuit's controversial decision to stand, posing significant legal risks for protest organizers in the American South.
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson, who faces a lawsuit from a police officer injured during a protest he led in Baton Rouge in 2016. The officer alleges Mckesson was negligent under Louisiana law for failing to prevent violence during the demonstration. The court's decision not to intervene does not express a view on the merits of Mckesson's claim, and the case will continue in the lower courts.
New York City has agreed to pay $28.75 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by Madeline Feliciano, whose grandson attempted suicide while in custody on Rikers Island in 2019. The lawsuit alleged that correction officers waited nearly eight minutes before helping him, resulting in brain damage. Three officers and a captain were indicted on charges in 2022. The settlement will go towards Nicholas Feliciano's medical care, and his family is also advocating for the closure of Rikers Island, despite Mayor Eric Adams' concerns about public safety and jail population accommodation.
New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that police officers forced two Muslim American women to remove their hijabs for mugshot photos, with the women claiming violation of their religious and constitutional rights. The settlement, which still requires court approval, could make over 3,600 people eligible for payments. The lawsuit prompted the New York City Police Department to change its policy regarding religious garb in booking photographs, and notices of the settlement will be provided in multiple languages.
New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by two Muslim women who were forced to remove their head coverings for mug shots after being arrested, with the lawsuit claiming they felt shamed and exposed. The settlement, which requires approval by a federal judge, resulted in a change in the police department's policy to allow arrested individuals to keep their head coverings on for mug shots with limited exceptions. The financial settlement will be shared by approximately 4,100 eligible class members, with a guaranteed minimum payment of $7,824 for each eligible person.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by enforcing the state’s aggravated prostitution statute against people living with HIV. The department found that the statute subjects individuals with HIV to harsher criminal penalties solely because of their HIV status, leading to discrimination, increased homelessness, and unemployment. The lawsuit reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring that people living with HIV are not targeted because of their disability and aims to address the discrimination and outdated science behind the enforcement of state criminal laws based on HIV status.
The city of Aurora, Colorado has reached a $1.9 million settlement with a Black woman and her four daughters who were handcuffed and held at gunpoint by police in a case of mistaken identity. The incident, which occurred in 2020, sparked outrage and a lawsuit claiming evidence of systemic racism within the police department. The settlement will be evenly divided among the family, with portions for the girls placed into annuities. This marks the latest in a series of settlements for police misconduct in Aurora, including the $15 million settlement with the parents of Elijah McClain. The family's lawyer hopes the settlement sends a message to law enforcement nationwide to use discretion in their responses to situations.
The city of Aurora, Colorado, has reached a $1.9 million settlement with a Black woman, Brittney Gilliam, who was mistakenly removed from her car at gunpoint with her family by police officers who thought she had stolen her vehicle. The incident, which occurred during a "Sunday Funday" outing, led to a civil rights lawsuit alleging racial profiling and excessive use of force. The family's attorney hopes the settlement will prompt changes in law enforcement practices, emphasizing the need for common sense and accountability. The traumatic experience resulted in the minors seeking therapy, and the family is satisfied with the settlement, aiming to spare the girls from reliving the ordeal during a trial.
Aurora police in Colorado have agreed to pay $1.9m to a black family wrongfully held at gunpoint in a parking lot, including a mother and her four children, in a settlement following a 2020 incident caught on camera. The family was stopped after police mistakenly believed their car had been stolen, drawing outrage and accusations of racism. The officers later apologized and offered to cover therapy services for the children, with a lawyer for the family confirming their satisfaction with the settlement. This incident occurred amid wider criticism of the Aurora police department's handling of the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old black man who died in police custody.
The city of Aurora, Colorado, has agreed to a $1.9 million settlement with a Black family after police officers drew guns on them in a mistaken stolen vehicle case in 2020. The incident involved Brittney Gilliam and her family being stopped and ordered out of their vehicle at gunpoint, with some members being handcuffed, before it was confirmed that their car was not stolen. The family's attorney emphasized the need for law enforcement to use common sense, especially when dealing with children, and suggested that racial profiling played a role in the officers' actions. The district attorney's office declined to file charges against the officers, but called for a review of police policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The city of Aurora, Colorado, has reached a $1.9 million settlement with a Black mother and her four daughters who were handcuffed and held at gunpoint by police in a case of mistaken identity. The incident, which occurred in 2020, led to a lawsuit claiming evidence of systemic racism within the police department. The settlement will be divided among the family members, with portions for the girls placed into annuities. This marks the latest in a series of settlements Aurora has been forced to pay over police misconduct, including a $15 million settlement with the parents of Elijah McClain.
The city of Aurora, Colorado has reached a $1.9 million settlement with Brittany Gilliam and her four Black daughters after they were handcuffed and held at gunpoint by police in a case of mistaken identity. The incident, which occurred in 2020, sparked outrage and led to a lawsuit claiming evidence of racism. The settlement will be evenly divided among Gilliam and the girls, with the girls' portions placed into annuities. This marks the latest in a series of settlements for police misconduct in Aurora, including a $15 million settlement in 2021 for the parents of Elijah McClain.
A federal appeals court has blocked a controversial Florida law restricting Chinese citizens from buying land, stating that it "blatantly violates" protections against discrimination. The law, championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, faced a legal challenge from Chinese immigrant plaintiffs represented by the ACLU, and the court granted an injunction for two plaintiffs fearing they would be forced to cancel home purchase contracts. The law specifically targets Chinese individuals and those from other hostile countries, but the court's decision is seen as a warning to other states considering similar legislation.
A group of Japanese citizens, including a man of Pakistani descent, has filed a civil lawsuit against the country's police, alleging racial profiling and discrimination. The plaintiffs, including a 26-year-old Japanese citizen of Pakistani descent, are demanding an end to the alleged practice and seeking punitive damages and attorney fees. They claim that being stopped by police for no apparent reason violates the Japanese constitution and international treaties. Efforts to increase diversity in Japan have been growing, but the case highlights ongoing challenges.
