Blue Angels sued for killing Seattle woman's cat. What Pensacola has to say about that
Lauren Ann Lombardi filed the lawsuit in federal court alleging that her 14-year-old cat 'Layla,' which she loved like a daughter, died as a result of the Blue Angels 'auditory carpet bombing.'
The suit says the elderly cat's health started deteriorating after the Blue Angels' show in August 2024 and their most recent show was the final straw.
'Layla's final days on Earth were marred by sadistic suffering – cowering in terror beneath furniture while her ailing heart struggled against the Blue Angels's relentless noise pollution,' the lawsuit reads. 'Layla died knowing only fear when she should have known only love.'
The lawsuit says when Lombardi took to social media to take the team to task for what she said was deadly, excessive noise, the Blue Angels blocked her and denied her constitutional rights to free speech and left her 'unable to voice her grief or otherwise hold her government accountable for its role in her family's suffering.'
Lombardi specifically names Cmdr. Adam Bryan is his capacity as commanding officer of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Lt. Ben Bushong in his capacity as public affairs officer for the Blue Angels, and defendant 'J. Doe,' in their capacity as social media administrator of the Blue Angels, and who is responsible for managing the Blue Angels' social media accounts and blocked her on the social media outlet Instagram.
While Lombardi says she 'respects and supports' the United States Armed Forces and their mission, her criticism of the Navy's flying team was specific to environmental and constitutional harms caused by their demonstration practices and 'subsequent censorship activities.'
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'Layla was the greatest cat that ever lived, and her final days on this Earth were pockmarked by debilitating terror brought on by the actions of the United States Government,' Lombardi states in the lawsuit.
She said for the past several years, even before Layla's health began to deteriorate, she sent multiple critical messages to the Blue Angels social media account including: 'Stop with your 'F***** b****** you are terrorizing my cat and all the other animals and wildlife. F*** off,' and 'Nobody gives a f*** about your stupid little planes.'
In addition, Lombardi said she left multiple comments on @usnavyblueangels posts or tagging their handle on other accounts' posts, directing other users to sign a Change.org petition titled 'We All Want to Feel Safe: No More Blue Angels Over Seattle.'
Around Aug. 5, 2023, the Blue Angels blocked Lombardi's account from any further interactions. In response, Lombardi sent them a direct message calling them 'cowards' which appeared to send but was never delivered due to the blocking.
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She said the move to block her impacted her ability to grieve over her lost cat and denied her First Amendment right to free speech.
The lawsuit is making national headlines and fans in Pensacola, the home of the Blue Angels, are reacting.
Responding to a Seattle Times article about some Seattle residents seeking to stop future Blue Angels air shows, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves stated on his X account: 'Come on back to Pensacola this weekend then! Some of my favorite noise!"
The comment was accompanied by an American flag and a salute emojis.
Others on social media reacted to the story by defending the Blues including against the occasional opposing comment.
One social media user replied to a recent Blues Angels Instagram post saying they should 'stop killing people's cats.'
Another user replied, 'Respectfully it's not their problem and the cat was old and had a heart condition. The Blue Angels aren't going to stop their shows because of scared pets or people with PTSD or people who don't like loud noise.'
Lombardi said in the lawsuit she has and continues to suffer frustration and distress over Layla's loss and "prevention from participating in public discourse about subsequent Blue Angels performances and their impact on vulnerable populations."
She is asking the court to declare that the Blues blocking her from their official Instagram account as unconstitutional and to award her costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, as well as "any additional relief as may be just and proper."
The News Journal reached out to the Blue Angels for comment, but they did not respond by deadline.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels sued for kiling Seattle woman's cat
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