Judge Approves $250,000 Settlement for Bush Inauguration Protesters

[Hissyspit]

Source: Raw Story

Judge approves $250,000 settlement for Bush inauguration protesters

By David Edwards
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 -- 3:48 pm

A group of about 70 protesters who were arrested after the 2005 inauguration of President George W. Bush will receive at least $2,000 each, according to a settlement approved in a Washington federal court.

- snip -

"It's not a reflection on all demonstrators," Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey said the following day. "But a hard-core group came to town and caused damage to property... You can't let them destroy the city. Nobody has a right to do that." "They are just thugs and hoodlums who did that," he added.

Many of those arrested said that they were just bystanders who didn't deserve to be prosecuted. Others claimed that the police shot pepper spray directly in their eyes even after being restrained.

In 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huevelle ruled that all of the arrests were unconstitutional because police could not determine which of the people had actually broken the law.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/29/judge-approves-250000-settlement-for-bush-inauguration-protesters/

[Drale]

1. Thats not nearly enough

and Bush should have to pay them out of his own pocket.

[onehandle]

2. They tried to herd us in 2001, hoping that we would turn back.

But no, there were a quarter million of us along Pennsylvania Avenue booing his darkened limo as they sped him to the fenced in safe zone in front of the White House.

[valerief]

3. In Merka, if it wasn't on Fox, it didn't happen. nt

[avaistheone1]

4. It should have been at least a couple of million dollars.

K&r

[Lasher]

6. Apiece.

This is no deterrent whatever. If anything, it encourages similar fascism in the future. Where are the criminal penalties for those who broke the law by arresting these innocents?

[avaistheone1]

10. Yes.

The penalty as it stands is was just a light slap on the wrist with a wet noodle.

[Newsjock]

5. The people of D.C. are paying this settlement

Why not the individual officers involved? Why not the police chief? Even if it's "covered" by "insurance," the fine people of the District will no doubt pay the price in increased city insurance costs.

[w4rma]

7. The good people of D.C. should fire the police chief and have these police fired, then. (nt)

[Tempest]

9. Because the officers were acting as agents of the city

Case law on this is very clear and is appropriate.

[No Elephants]

12. ? Usually, both principal (D.C.) AND agent are liable.

[louis-t]

8. As I recall, the video showed police pulling peoples' eyes open

to shoot pepper spray in them after they were already subdued. Did I imagine this?

[Zorra]

11. "Nobody has a right to destroy the city"...true, but Bush destroyed the country.

"Nobody has the right to do that"

And Bush didn't even get arrested.

Glad the bystanders got some payback.

[No Elephants]

13. Total red herring by Police Chief Ramsey. Obviously, this case had nothing to do with vandals.

[No Elephants]

14. Way too little and way too late.

A SETTLEMENT took over six years? Someone should be horsewhipped.

Well, okay, I'm non-violent, but someone should be publicly disgraced.

[StarburstClock]

15. That is the way it happens in the U.S., those illegally arrested wait at least 5 years

for the so-called "law" to get around to doing something about it.