Posted on 04/17/2024 6:09:59 AM PDT by MtnClimber
On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) rejected an appeal from a leader of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement who was found liable for one of his follower’s violently attacking a police officer.
As Fox News reports, far-left activist Deray Mckesson was sued in 2016 by a Baton Rouge police officer, who remained a nameless “John Doe” for the case, after the officer was injured by a protester who threw a “rock-like” object at him and hit him. The attack led to the officer losing several teeth and suffering a brain injury.
The officer sued Mckesson, who organized the protest, on the basis that Mckesson “should have known” that the event “would become violent as other similar riots had become violent.”
“The pattern was set: out-of-state protesters representing BLM fly into a town, gather, block a highway, engage and entice police, loot, damage property, injure bystanders, injure police,” the officer’s lawyers wrote in their brief. “By July 9, 2016, when McKesson organized the Baton Rouge protest/riot—he had no reason to expect a different outcome—police will be injured.”
Last June, the Fifth Circuit of Appeals ruled that the case could proceed, determining that the officer had successfully proven that McKesson “directed his own tortious activity” which led to the creation of a dangerous environment. The Fifth Circuit also ruled that Mckesson had “incited” violence due to “organiz[ing] and direct[ing] a protest… such that it was likely that a violent confrontation with the police would result.”
Lawyers for the far-left American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who are defending Mckesson in the case, allege that the lawsuit is a violation of his First Amendment rights. Calling the Fifth Circuit’s decision “directly at odds” with the Supreme Court’s precedent, the ACLU lawyers claim that the decision would “chill classic First-Amendment-protected activity nationwide.”
In Monday’s decision, the Supreme Court declined to take up the case, essentially upholding the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a separate statement declaring that the court “expresses no view about the merits of Mckesson’s claim.”
“Although the Fifth Circuit did not have the benefit of this Court’s recent decision in Counterman when it issued its opinion, the lower courts now do,” Sotomayor continued. “I expect them to give full and fair consideration to arguments regarding Counterman’s impact in any future proceedings in this case.”
Indeed it’s why things are like they are now.
Hmm. This would appear to legally expose any and all riot organizers. Things about to get expensive.
More background on DeRay McKesson who graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick Maine.
Conservative organizers to be arrested soon. All it takes is one protestor getting out of line.
“... the ACLU lawyers claim that the decision would “chill classic First-Amendment-protected activity nationwide.”
So throwing rocks at someone’s head is speech protected by the 1st Amendment, but entering the Capitol unarmed to express your objections is insurrection.
Just making sure I have it right.
By extension, remember that the little shithead socialists who infest colleges were BLM’s stooges.
Same vile cabal of professional agitators, whether the same individuals or not.
correct link
Obama/Holder and their FBI created BLM so throw them in jail
Injuring police officers by throwing rocks is a first amendment right, but taking a Capitol Police lead tour of the Capitol building is an insurrection.
Didn’t see this before I posted. Clearly you and I lack the sublte legal knowledge necessary to understand these distinctions in where constitutional rights begin and end.
“Lawyers for the far-left American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who are defending Mckesson in the case, allege that the lawsuit is a violation of his First Amendment rights. Calling the Fifth Circuit’s decision “directly at odds” with the Supreme Court’s precedent, the ACLU lawyers claim that the decision would “chill classic First-Amendment-protected activity nationwide.””
Then how come the ACLU isn’t defending Trump or his associates for Jan 6?
Far-Left Activist & Apparent BLM Leader Deray Mckesson
I bet that the people organizing BLM are the same people organizing the Palestine Protestors.IOW Communists.
It's past time to end the softballs "liberals" and "leftists" and identify them as what they really are. Communists.
Did someone say something about insurrectionists?
My thought as well.
It looks like the worm is beginning to turn, hopefully.
Unfortunately there is no 'balance'. Sotomayor is a perfect example of how, for too many people, racial/ethnic identity and political bias are way more important than doing what's right.
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