A federal jury has awarded $14 million in damages to 12 Denver protesters. The jury discovered that Denver police used extreme power in opposition to protesters, violating their constitutional rights. The protesters had been hit with pepper balls and a bag full of lead in the course of the 2020 demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In response to court docket paperwork, attorneys argued that the aggressive response to the protesters, and the accidents sustained, had been a direct consequence of how the town did not correctly practice and supervise cops. One protester ended up in intensive care after he suffered a fractured cranium and bleeding within the mind.
The jury of two males and 6 girls, returned their verdict after about 4 hours of deliberations. The decision adopted three weeks of testimony and proof that included police and protester video of incidents.
“Sadly, Denver Police Division officers and different regulation enforcement officers responding to help encountered excessive damaging conduct from some agitators amongst largely peaceable protestors,” the Metropolis and County of Denver instructed CNN in a press release.”We acknowledge that some errors had been made.”
A complete of 5 Denver cops had been disciplined for his or her actions in the course of the protests. And based on the division, one other officer, who was new and nonetheless on probation, was fired after posting a photograph of himself and others wearing tactical gear on social media with the remark “Let’s begin a riot.”
