A lawsuit was filed Monday in a federal court in Seattle that claims protesters in the city are essentially being priced out of protesting because the protective gear they need to keep them safe from responding police is expensive.
Seattle Protesters' Lawsuit Says Their Need to Buy Armor to Protect Against Police Riot Response Violates Their First Amendment Rights
The lawsuit claims that protesters who take part in these rallies have to face the possibility of police response and “must purchase expensive equipment to be assured that they will be able to protest safely.”
August 5, 2020
The Seattle Times reports that the five plaintiffs listed some of the items needed for protection from police munitions during these protests. The list included boots, gloves, helmets and gas masks.
The lawsuit claims that protesters who take part in these rallies have to face the possibility of police response and “must purchase expensive equipment to be assured that they will be able to protest safely,” Fox News reports.
"We started hearing stories about folks who were spending $400 to $500 on gear to try to be able to protest the streets," Talitha Hazelton, who is representing clients on the new lawsuit, told NPR .
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