Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of BLM Organizer DeRay Mckesson

The Supreme Court of the United States provided a win for organizers of protests after it ruled in favor of a Black Lives Matter organizer being sued by a police officer.

An unnamed Baton Rouge Police Officer was attempting to sue DeRay Mckesson after the officer sustained injuries at a protest in 2016 when he was hit by a heavy object. He was left with a head ad brain injury as well as lost teeth. Mckesson did not throw the object but was the organizer of the event.

According to CNN, a lower court allowed the officer to hold Mckesson accountable for his injuries, but the Supreme Court's decision negates the previous ruling. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett was not a part of the decision.

"The Supreme Court has long recognized that peaceful protestors cannot be held liable for the unintended, unlawful actions of others," said American Civil Liberties Union National Legal Director David Kole, who is representing Mckesson. "If the law had allowed anyone to sue leaders of social justice movements over the violent actions of others, there would have been no Civil Rights Movement. The lower court's ruling is a threat to the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans."

A group of First Amendment lawyers, represented by Acting Solicitor General Walter Dellinger, gave their support of Mckesson in court.

"The First Amendment does not condone physical violence," Dellinger said.

He continued, "What is at stake here is not the officer's right to seek redress for his injuries, but the First Amendment rights of organizers to use protest to express political and social views."

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