Use Of Force

37 Stories

Federal judge rejects attempt to enforce Seattle crowd weapons ban in lawsuit over protesters' protective gear

Federal Judge Richard Jones on Monday denied a motion seeking an outright ban on the Seattle Police Department's use of crowd control weapons. The request was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington as part of a lawsuit arguing that protesters are being priced out of their constitutional rights by an increasing need to wear protective gear to ongoing civil rights demonstrations.
Liz Brazile
Needing body armor to protest in Seattle violates constitutional rights, lawsuit argues

The court filing argues that the city has infringed on its residents’ First Amendment Rights to peaceably assemble, and has neglected its duty to provide equal protection under the law.
Liz Brazile
Police neck restraints now banned in many Seattle suburbs

Police chiefs say protests were the catalyst for change.
Isolde Raftery
Judge denies Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan's bid to kill election recall petition against her

A King County Superior Court judge on Wednesday doubled down on a decision earlier this month to allow an election recall petition against Durkan to proceed. The petition is aimed at removing Durkan from office in response to the Seattle Police Department's use of tear gas and other crowd control weapons against protesters amid ongoing civil rights demonstrations.
Liz Brazile
An ex-cop's journey to racial justice advocacy: 'I choose my people, I choose my community'

The path to becoming a community and youth advocate wasn't straightforward for 30-year-old Federal Way resident, Evan Cook. Cook, a former Eastern Washington University Police officer, shared his journey from the force to the front lines of community activism.
Liz Brazile
Protesters and relatives seek damages from Seattle and Washington state

More than a dozen Seattle area protesters and their relatives have filed tort claims against various government agencies, after sustaining injuries — one fatal — amid ongoing local civil rights demonstrations.
Liz Brazile
These are protesters who were injured by Seattle Police in demonstrations for racial justice

Amid Seattle protests against racism and police violence, several stories of people injured by police grabbed our readers' attention. These are their stories.
Liz Brazile

Liz Jones

Isolde Raftery
This street medic was arrested during a Seattle protest, then jailed in isolation because he's transgender

Joaquin Uribe spent two days jailed in isolation after a Seattle Police officer accused him of assault during a protest. Uribe, who sustained multiple injuries during his encounter with the officer, denies those allegations and says it was the officer who escalated things.
Liz Brazile
A child pepper sprayed, a woman's eye severely injured. Protesters condemn Seattle Police's tactics

The family of a young boy hit with pepper spray and a woman shot in the eye with a rubber bullet are speaking out about the Seattle Police Department's use of crowd control weapons against demonstrators.
Liz Brazile
Mayor Durkan's new budget proposal would 'defund' Seattle Police — but only by 5%

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on Tuesday proposed a budget that would reduce Seattle Police spending by $20 million through the end of the year. That's roughly a 5% reduction from the $409 million originally allocated to Seattle police for 2020.
Ashley Hiruko

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