Seattle Protesters Win $680,000 in Civil Rights Violation Case

Jury finds Seattle police acted with malice in arresting anti-police graffiti protesters during COVID-19 restrictions.

Four protesters were jailed for writing anti-police messages in chalk near a Seattle police precinct.
The arrests occurred despite a moratorium on misdemeanor bookings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A federal jury awarded the protesters compensatory and punitive damages for First Amendment violations.
The officers involved were found to have acted with malice and reckless disregard for the protesters' rights.
The case highlighted a broader practice of viewpoint-based law enforcement within the Seattle Police Department.