Denver settles civil rights lawsuits for $150K with journalist at George Floyd protests
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver City Council approved two settlements to the same man on Monday, related to his coverage of the George Floyd protests in the downtown area and of a homeless encampment sweep.
Brian Loma, a journalist, claimed in his federal civil rights lawsuit that Denver Police Department officers 'retaliated' against him for covering what his attorneys called 'rampant police brutality' that occurred during the protests. Loma said he suffered pepper balls, flash-bang grenades and tear gas during the protests as he exercised his First Amendment rights of free speech.
2020 coverage: Police chiefs: Denver saw more protest violence than any major US or Canadian city
'After being shot and tear gassed during the first day of the protests, I showed up in a helmet that had 'PRESS' all over it,' said Brian Loma in a press release from his attorneys. 'And on the second day while wearing it, having shown up at the Capitol I was burning sage and praying in the Capitol lawn when I was directly shot and targeted with tear gas. I was a peaceful protester in meditation when Denver police targeted me and violated my rights.'
Denver paid $135,000 to settle Loma's claims.
'The payment to Brian Loma for the brutality he endured during the George Floyd protests is just the latest in a long line of payments by Denver for police misconduct during the protests,' said Andy McNulty, Loma's attorney. 'Unfortunately, the taxpayers of Denver are forced to compensate victims for the harms they suffered at the hands of Denver Police Department officers while officers have suffered no consequences for their actions.'
The second case involved Loma filming officers conducting a homeless sweep of an encampment allegedly primarily occupied by LGBTQ+ individuals.
'The reality of the sweeps was that they inflicted immense trauma on houseless residents of Denver and looked ugly on film for the city,' Loma's attorneys wrote in a press release.
Loma argued in his lawsuit that he was filming the installation of a border fence around the encampment that allegedly was constructed to limit access of mutual aid providers and supporters assisting the homeless community. While doing so, he demanded the officers identify themselves, as is the Denver Police Department's policy.
'DPD Officer Berger refused to identify himself and, when Mr. Loma moved his camera to capture the name badge on his uniform, Officer Berger slapped Mr. Loma's camera out of his hand, smashing it on the ground and breaking it,' Loma's attorneys stated.
Denver sees historic drop in street homelessness: Mayor Johnston
For this case, Denver paid Loma $15,000 to settle his claims.
'This is not the first time that Denver Police Department officers have retaliated against individuals for filming and criticizing the police,' said McNulty in the press release. 'The Denver Police Department's persistent violation of the First Amendment should come as no surprise given Denver's consistent failure to discipline or fire officers who violate civilians' constitutional rights. We are gratified that these settlements impose some semblance of accountability on a police department run amok.'
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