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BLM Sues Seattle for Being Priced Out of First Amendment Rights; and Trump Shrugs Off Covid Deaths, Saying ‘It is what it is.’
Five protesters sued the city of Seattle claiming that the Seattle Police Department’s crowd control measures forced them to purchase expensive gear. As a result, they say they were priced out of exercising their First Amendment rights.
The suit was filed on Monday, and it isn’t the first. As a matter of fact, several other lawsuits have been filed over how law enforcement officials have handled BLM demonstrations.
Monday’s lawsuit also focuses on police tactics, but plays from a different angle according to the Seattle Times. Overall, the goal was the same.
“The five plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that the purchase of helmets, gas masks, protective clothing, goggles, gloves, boots, umbrellas and other gear they say are needed to fend off police pepper spray, less-lethal projectiles and other crowd-dispersal tools has impinged on their civil right to peacefully protest,” noted the outlet.
The women who filed the lawsuit “claim that repeated use of force by SPD during more than six weeks of civil unrest over systemic racism and police brutality against people of color has made it impossible to exercise their right to gather and protest without personal protective gear, which isn’t cheap.”
They continued, “Because protesters now must purchase expensive equipment to be assured that they will be able to protest safely, the indiscriminate use of weapons by SPD implicates equal protection,” alleged the women involved the complaint.
Related: Portland Protesters Sue Trump Administration Over Use of Force
When confronted with the daily death toll the US is suffering from a rising number of coronavirus cases, Trump responded that it “is what it is.”
During an interview with Axios on HBO, Jonathan Swan questioned Trump about the ongoing crisis.
“I’ve gone to your rallies. I’ve talked to your people… they love you. They listen to you, They listen to every word you say. They hang on your every word,” said Swan. “And so when they hear you say, ‘Everything’s under control. Don’t worry about wearing masks,’ I mean, these are people — many of them are older people.”
Trump replied, “Well, what’s your definition of control? I think it’s under control.”
“How? A thousand Americans are dying a day,” said Swan.
“They are dying. That’s true. And you — it is what it is,” replied Trump. “But that doesn’t mean we aren’t doing everything we can. It’s under control as much as you can control it.”
Unfortunately, those most at risk include the elderly and those that suffer from medical conditions, such as those prone to AFib strokes. Coupled with loneliness, the situation looks grim.
Related: Trump Says He Won’t Shut Country Down if 2nd Coronavirus Wave Hits
