BLM protesters who participated in 2020 riots will receive $10 million from Seattle

The city of Seattle, Washington, has agreed to pay $10 million in settlement for a lawsuit filed by a group of Black Lives Matter protesters who took part in the violent and destructive riots that occurred in 2020 after the death of George Floyd.

In a press release on Wednesday, the city announced that it would be settling the complaint brought forth by 50 protesters who alleged that police injured them during their participation in the demonstrations.

The complaint involved numerous interactions between the protesters and local law enforcement officials, resulting in thousands of videos, over a million pages of records, hundreds of witness interviews, and extensive court filings.

“This decision was the best financial decision for the City considering risk, cost, and insurance,” Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison said. “The case has been a significant drain on the time and resources of the City and would have continued to be so through an estimated three-month trial that was scheduled to begin in May.”

“This settlement resolves the majority of the remaining claims arising out of the 2020 demonstration period and is a big step toward allowing the City to focus on the important work of today, while moving forward from events four years ago,” Davison added.

The death of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked riots that caused extensive damage to local businesses, property, and resulted in injuries and fatalities.

In Seattle, BLM activists took control of a six-block area known as the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone or the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. They ousted the police from the area, leading to multiple shootings and two murders.

According to attorneys representing the plaintiffs, one protester suffered a heart attack after being hit by a blast ball fired by the Seattle Police Department. Another plaintiff, a veteran who uses a cane, was allegedly subjected to gas and tackled for not retreating quickly enough.

The lawyers also claimed that many others experienced permanent hearing loss, broken bones, concussions, wounds, bruises, and emotional trauma due to the police response.

Despite clear evidence showing that many protesters engaged in destructive and violent behavior during these demonstrations, some media outlets continue to portray them as peaceful activists exercising their right to free speech. However, Judge Sandra Widlan rejected Seattle’s argument that protesters willingly accepted the risk of injury from law enforcement when participating in the riots.

Karen Koehler, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that her clients were exercising their First Amendment rights by speaking out against police brutality. She criticized the city for not acknowledging any wrongdoing and suggested they should apologize for mistreating peaceful protesters.

Contrary to assertions made by leftists that the 2020 riots were not harmful, Seattle had previously agreed to pay $3.6 million in settlement to a group of business owners and residents who suffered substantial damages as a result of actions carried out by individuals claiming to be “peaceful protesters.”

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