Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Against Black Lives Matter Leader in Landmark Protest Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a lower court decision that holds a Black Lives Matter organizer liable for violence at a protest, potentially setting a precedent that could restrict protest rights in several states.

The Supreme Court's decision leaves in place a Fifth Circuit ruling that holds protest organizers liable for actions of participants, affecting protests in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
DeRay Mckesson, a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, faces potential liability for violence at a 2016 protest he organized, despite not directly participating in the violent act.
Legal experts and civil rights advocates express concerns that the ruling could have a chilling effect on the constitutional right to protest.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor highlighted that the lower courts should consider the impact of a recent Supreme Court decision, Counterman v. Colorado, on the case.
The case has sparked significant debate over the balance between holding individuals accountable and protecting free speech and protest rights.