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
1 min to read
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.
More Patrol
Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →
Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →
10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
Sponsored•November 17, 2025
2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download
Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →