He and the others claim they were wrongfully arrested. While they are getting money, their costs may still outstrip that. But this is a common tactic after protests, sue the cities for police brutality and wrongful arrest. Many cities, like Baton Rouge, will settle rather than face possibility of spending more later. Then the professional protester can live and protest for awhile longer off the money, if they get a few thousand in a pay-out.
Via The Advocate:
After a Baton Rouge Police officer shot and killed Alton Sterling in July, hundreds took to the city’s streets in protest. Now, City Hall will pay out a few hundred dollars apiece to more than 90 protesters, including Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson, who sued the city after their arrests.
The Metro Council voted Tuesday evening to approve the settlement in the federal class-action lawsuit. The settlement, about $100,000 in total, will be borne by four agencies paying no more than $25,000 each: the city government, Louisiana State Police, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office.
Parish Attorney Lea Anne Batson said the city plans to pay $230 to each of the 92 plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The rest of the money under the $25,000 cap for the city-parish will go toward bonding fees, attorney’s fees and other costs, Batson said.
HT: Twitchy