The city also said it would permanently agree not to use a number of non-lethal but dangerous weapons against nonviolent protesters.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Protesters and their lawyers who will split the $5.75 million settlement alleged that their civil rights were violated and that some of them suffered life-altering injuries at the hands of police, who used chemical sprays. Did. , wooden bullets and other means of force were used. Civil justice protest of 2020.
But during a press conference on Friday, he said it’s not really about the money.
The protesters and their lawyers said the real takeover is the permanent injunction that comes through the settlement that prohibits Columbus police from using chemical spray, wooden bullets, kettlebell techniques to agitate against nonviolent protesters, or other forms of violence. will be banned permanently. Prohibit the use of force.
In the days after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd while in custody, people took to the streets across the US to protest excessive force. Protesters suing the city of Columbus alleged that they were exposed to more violence.
While water bottles, angry words and vandalism were also part of the equation, that last weekend of May 2020, lawyer Fred Gates told reporters that the police response punished the public for the sins of some people.
“What we saw in this case … was collective punishment. Because some people got out of line, thousands got punished. That’s not good law enforcement; it doesn’t make sense,” Gittes said.
Three of the 32 litigants spoke to reporters during a press conference on Friday.
Among them was Bernadette Calvey, who said she had never protested before, but supported Black Lives Matter and moved to the Short North. She says the protesters gathered around her were standing there when the police used least lethal force with wooden bullets on the crowd. A projectile hit his face.
“It was so scary and I couldn’t imagine it all. Everyone was standing there and they fired shots at the crowd and my jaw absorbed the impact that I couldn’t eat for the next two weeks,” Calvey said .
The main plaintiff, Tammy Alsada, told reporters that she previously participated on the city’s community advisory board for police and participated in protests that weekend. She said that she too was exposed to the chemical spray. She said she was happy with the settlement and the permanent injunction.
“The abuse is unacceptable. And the police should be held accountable. They should be held accountable.”
What happened to all of us,” Alsada said.
Reached for comment on Friday, local FOP Capital City Lodge vice president Brian Steele said that “if the city wants to pay $5.75 million for (the people) to destroy the city, it’s up to them.”
Steele further said he thinks the change takes away the tools for crowd control from officials.
The city of Columbus announced Thursday that it has agreed to pay $5.75 million to protesters – some of whom were injured during a 2020 civil justice protest.
The agreement also included a permanent injunction that would ban Columbus Division police officers from non-lethal but dangerous weapons such as pepper spray, tear gas, wooden bullets and other uses of force against nonviolent protesters.
“During the protests in Columbus, some plaintiffs were seriously injured. Therefore, it is up to the city to accept responsibility and pay damages,” Columbus City Attorney Zack Klein wrote in a release.
In a preliminary injunction in April, a federal judge ordered Columbus police to use tear gas, pepper spray, flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets, wood pellets, batons, body slams, push-ups to disperse nonviolent protesters. Ordered to use ups. Or pulled over, or ordered to stop using kettlebells. Including clearing streets or sidewalks. As part of the announced settlement, the city said it would agree to a permanent injunction.
“Many Columbus Division of police officers did their job professionally during that time, but this trial highlighted serious issues that needed to be addressed,” Klein said.
Attorney John Marshall, a lead attorney for the protesters at trial, said, “The directive states that peaceful protesters on city streets and sidewalks cannot be subjected to force, arrest, or orders to disperse, except in exceptional circumstances.” This includes the use of force, arrest or orders to disperse.” Including special protection for doctors, journalists and legal observers.”
Settlement amounts will come from the city’s general fund account if approved by Columbus City Council.
Public Safety Director Robert Clark issued the following statement about the settlement:
“We have implemented significant changes in protest response and training since last year’s protests. We know what a painful chapter this has been for everyone involved, including the women and men of the Columbus Division of Police, And the community we serve is involved. Before there can be healing, there must be accountability. Where we have gone wrong and the relationship has deteriorated, we must try to fix it. This agreement is a step in that direction. step, while Columbus also protects the interests of taxpayers.”