Special Collection: Police Violence Protests

"Fed Goons Out Of PDX" projected onto the front of the Portland Justice Center.

Protest in front of the Portland Justice Center.

@Clypian

Minneapolis police officers killed George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, on May 25, 2020. Nationwide protests followed, often under the banner "Black Lives Matter." This special collection brings together relevant litigation regarding city and law enforcement responses to the protests, focusing on group cases and class actions. Lawsuits covered issues including curfews, police use of chemical agents, arrests and assaults of reporters, denials of permits, excessive force and unlawful arrests, racial discrimination against protesters and media, and dispersal of protests.

See Searchable Results

Jackson v. City of Fort Lauderdale

0:24-cv-60935 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Filed Date: May 31, 2024

Case Ongoing

This case involved police dispersal of protestors in Fort Lauderdale on May 31, 2020. Four years later, on May 31, 2024, several protestors filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the South…

read more

Minnesota v. Minneapolis Police Department

27-CV-23-4177 | Minnesota state trial court

Filed Date: March 31, 2023

Case Ongoing

Civil rights investigation of Minneapolis police racial discrimination leads to reform agreement.

Hernandez v. City of New York

1:21-cv-07406 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Sept. 2, 2021

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit over police treatment of legal observers at 2020 NYC protest settled with damages payments.

Gray v. City of New York

1:21-cv-06610 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Aug. 5, 2021

Case Ongoing

Press freedom lawsuit against NYPD over protest coverage, ongoing.

SPEECH AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Dream Defenders v. DeSantis

4:21-cv-00191 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Filed Date: May 11, 2021

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit challenging Florida's anti-protest law with preliminary injunction granted and under appeal.

Gaffet v. City of Oakland

3:21-cv-02881 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: April 21, 2021

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit against Oakland police over use of force during 2020 George Floyd protests continues.

6:21-cv-06296 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York

Filed Date: April 5, 2021

Case Ongoing

Police brutality class action against Rochester police over protest response.

Rolon v. City of New York

1:21-cv-02548 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: March 24, 2021

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit against NYPD over protest policing tactics remains in litigation.

NAACP v. San Jose

4:21-cv-01705 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: March 11, 2021

Closed Date: Aug. 29, 2023

Civil rights lawsuit against San Jose police over 2020 protest response settled for over three million dollars.

Yates v. New York City

1:21-cv-01904 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: March 4, 2021

Case Ongoing

Police brutality lawsuit over 2020 George Floyd protests in New York City settled for $15,000.

Sow v. City of New York

1:21-cv-00533 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Jan. 21, 2021

Case Ongoing

Class action lawsuit over NYPD's use of force during 2020 George Floyd protests settled for $13.7 million.

People of New York v. New York

1:21-cv-00322 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Jan. 14, 2021

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit against NYPD over excessive force at 2020 racial justice protests settled with policy reforms.

Wood v. de Blasio

1:20-cv-10541 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Dec. 14, 2020

Case Ongoing

Police brutality class action against New York City over 2020 protest arrests settled for millions in damages.

Sierra v. City of New York

1:20-cv-10291 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Dec. 7, 2020

Case Ongoing

Police misconduct class action over Bronx protest response settled for damages.

CODING IN PROCESS

Davis v. Multnomah County

3:20-cv-02041 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: Nov. 23, 2020

Case Ongoing

Wolfe v. Portland

3:20-cv-01882 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: Nov. 1, 2020

Case Ongoing

Disability rights lawsuit against Portland law enforcement over protest accommodations dismissed by federal court.

Payne v. de Blasio

1:20-cv-08924 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Oct. 26, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit against NYPD over excessive force during 2020 racial justice protests continues in discovery.

Portland v. Barr

3:20-cv-07184 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Oct. 14, 2020

Closed Date: Oct. 15, 2021

Cities' lawsuit challenging federal agents' deployment during protests ended after policy reversal.

Williams v. San Francisco

CGC-20-587008 | California state trial court

Filed Date: Oct. 7, 2020

Case Ongoing

Ongoing lawsuit challenging San Francisco police surveillance of racial justice protesters in 2020.

Zoe Adberg v. City of Seattle

20-2-14351-1 | Washington state trial court

Filed Date: Sept. 25, 2020

Closed Date: Jan. 23, 2024

Excessive force lawsuit against Seattle over 2020 BLM protests settled for $10 million.

Detroit Will Breathe v. Detroit

2:20-cv-12363 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: Aug. 31, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit against Detroit over police response to 2020 racial justice protests remains ongoing.

Pettibone v. Trump

3:20-cv-01464 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: Aug. 26, 2020

Closed Date: Jan. 20, 2025

Civil rights lawsuit challenging federal response to Portland protests remains ongoing.

Samaha v. City of Minneapolis

0:20-cv-01715 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: Aug. 6, 2020

Case Ongoing

Class action lawsuit over police response to George Floyd protests in Minneapolis seeking damages and reforms.

Scott v. Louisville Metro Government

3:20-cv-00535 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Filed Date: July 30, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit against Louisville police over 2020 protest response and use of force remains ongoing.

American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon v. City of Portland

Oregon state trial court

Filed Date: July 29, 2020

Closed Date: April 8, 2022

ACLU lawsuit against Portland police livestreaming of protesters led to court-ordered restrictions.

Levy Armstrong v. City of Minneapolis

0:20-cv-01645 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: July 28, 2020

Closed Date: April 6, 2023

Civil rights lawsuit over Minneapolis police response to George Floyd protests settled with reforms.

Don't Shoot Portland v. Wolf

1:20-cv-02040 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: July 27, 2020

Closed Date: Nov. 15, 2021

Civil rights lawsuit over federal agents' response to Portland Black Lives Matter protests settled after policy changes.

Wise v. Portland

3:20-cv-01193 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: July 24, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights case challenging police treatment of medics during Portland protests.

Black Lives Matter v. Wolf

1:20-cv-04319 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: July 23, 2020

Closed Date: Feb. 22, 2021

Chicago civil rights lawsuit over federal policing of protests was voluntarily dismissed.

Western States Center v. Department of Homeland Security

3:20-cv-01175 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: July 21, 2020

Closed Date: March 15, 2022

Civil rights lawsuit over federal agents' response to Portland protests ended with injunction and attorney fees award.

Rosenblum v. John Does 1-10

3:20-cv-01161 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: July 17, 2020

Closed Date: Sept. 16, 2020

State lawsuit challenging federal agents' tactics during 2020 Portland protests was voluntarily dismissed.

1:20-cv-01922 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: July 17, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights class action against Denver over police response to George Floyd protests in 2020.

Smith v. City of Philadelphia

2:20-cv-03431 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: July 14, 2020

Case Ongoing

Police brutality lawsuit over Philadelphia's 2020 protest response settled with reforms and damages.

Uniformed Fire Officers Association v. DeBlasio

1:20-cv-05441 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: July 14, 2020

Closed Date: April 13, 2021

First responder unions' lawsuit against New York City over officer discipline records release ended in dismissal.

Alsaada v. City of Columbus

2:20-cv-03431 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Filed Date: July 8, 2020

Case Ongoing

Police excessive force lawsuit over Columbus protests settled with reforms and damages.

NAACP v. Peterman

1:20-cv-00613 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

Filed Date: July 2, 2020

Case Ongoing

Protest rights lawsuit in Graham, North Carolina, settled with agreement allowing courthouse demonstrations.

Rulli v. Pittsburgh

2:20-cv-00965 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: June 29, 2020

Closed Date: March 24, 2023

Pittsburgh protest lawsuit over police tactics during Floyd demonstrations settled with reforms.

Index Newspapers LLC v. City of Portland

3:20-cv-01035 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: June 28, 2020

Case Ongoing

Lawsuit over Portland police attacks on journalists during protests remains in settlement negotiations.

Jeffery v. City of New York

1:20-cv-02843 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Filed Date: June 26, 2020

Case Ongoing

Class action challenging New York City's 2020 protest curfew orders remains under appeal.

Crane v. Fort Wayne

1:20-cv-00240 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Filed Date: June 26, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit against Fort Wayne police over use of force during 2020 George Floyd protests.

Epps v. City and County of Denver

1:20-cv-01878 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: June 25, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit over Denver police response to George Floyd protests settled for millions.

Chicago Freedom School v. Chicago

1:20-cv-03718 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: June 25, 2020

Closed Date: Aug. 17, 2020

Civil rights lawsuit against Chicago police over protest support center inspection settled.

Hunters Capital v. Seattle

2:20-cv-00983 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: June 24, 2020

Closed Date: April 17, 2023

Class action by Seattle property owners over city's handling of CHOP protest zone in 2020 settled for over $3 million.

Ruiz v. City of Sacramento

2:20-cv-01229 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

Filed Date: June 18, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit challenging Sacramento police response to George Floyd protests.

Indy 10 Black Lives Matter v. Indianapolis

1:20-cv-01660 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Filed Date: June 18, 2020

Closed Date: Dec. 14, 2020

Police brutality lawsuit against Indianapolis over protest response settled with new crowd control policies.

Buchanan v. Trump

1:20-cv-01542 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: June 11, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit over forceful clearing of Lafayette Square protesters partially settled.

Anti Police-Terror Project v. Oakland

3:20-cv-03866 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: June 11, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights case challenging Oakland police tactics during George Floyd protests.

Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County v. City of Seattle

2:20-cv-00887 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: June 9, 2020

Case Ongoing

Ongoing civil rights case challenging Seattle police force during Black Lives Matter protests.

Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles v. City of Los Angeles

2:20-cv-05027 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: June 5, 2020

Case Ongoing

Class action against LAPD over excessive force and mass arrests during 2020 George Floyd protests remains ongoing.

Don't Shoot Portland v. City of Portland

3:20-cv-00917 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: June 5, 2020

Case Ongoing

Portland protest lawsuit over police use of tear gas ended with restrictions on crowd control tactics.

1:20-cv-01616 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: June 4, 2020

Closed Date: Sept. 25, 2023

Civil rights lawsuit over Denver police response to George Floyd protests settled for over one million dollars.

Black Lives Matter D.C. v. Trump

1:20-cv-01469 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: June 4, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights lawsuit over police clearing of Lafayette Square protesters partially settled in Washington, D.C.

Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles v. Garcetti

2:20-cv-04940 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: June 3, 2020

Closed Date: July 7, 2020

Civil rights lawsuit challenging Los Angeles area curfew orders during 2020 protests ended after curfews lifted.

Williams v. Minneapolis

0:20-cv-01303 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: June 2, 2020

Closed Date: Sept. 15, 2021

Civil rights lawsuit over police response to George Floyd protests in Minneapolis dismissed by court.

Goyette v. Minneapolis

0:20-cv-01302 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: June 2, 2020

Case Ongoing

Civil rights case over police targeting journalists during Minneapolis protests settled with injunction.

United States v. City of Portland

3:12-cv-02265 | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Filed Date: Dec. 17, 2012

Case Ongoing

Ongoing police reform case about excessive force against mentally ill people in Portland.

United States v. City of Seattle

2:12-cv-01282 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: July 27, 2012

Case Ongoing

Lawsuit and consent decree addressing excessive use of force by Seattle Police Department; much of decree terminated in 2023 upon full compliance; final provisions terminated and case dismissed in September 2025.

SPEECH AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Lowden v. Clare County

1:09-cv-11209 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: April 1, 2009

Closed Date: Nov. 18, 2011

Constitutional challenge to Clare County, Michigan funeral protest law ended with settlement.