An eight-member jury found that 11 protesters’ rights to free speech and protection against unreasonable violence were violated, while others violated only their right to freedom of speech, the Associated Press reported. The lawsuit came after police used shotguns containing lead-laden Kevlar bags to quell protests, with Zach Packard awarding $ 3 million after he was shot in the head and taken to an intensive care unit. The protests began in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by police in May 2020. “Hopefully what police departments will get out of this is a regular citizen jury taking these rights very seriously,” said Timothy Macdonald, one of the prosecutors, following the ruling, according to the AP. The city claimed in court that the police made mistakes, but was shocked by the scale and scale of the protests. Protesters were seen throwing stones and canned food at authorities, causing damage to millions. “The violence and destruction that took place around the community required intervention,” said Lindsay Jordan, one of the defense attorneys. The lawsuit alleges that the city was also responsible for giving police “too little leeway” in defining “less lethal” devices. The police department reports that five police officers have been disciplined for their actions during the protests. The Hill has contacted the city and Macdonald for comment.
