Lawsuit: The Rights of Protestors with Disabilities
People with disabilities in Oregon have a constitutional right to peaceful protest against police violence, racism, ageism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, and other systems of oppression that have created injustices throughout the nation. We all cherish our right to support causes that we care about through public demonstrations. Publicly joining together with others to express our feelings is a deeply-rooted American tradition that has endured for generations and considered a pillar of our democratic society. As a community, we came together this summer to recognize the lives of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and too many others from communities of color who have been disproportionally impacted by police violence for generations.
DRO agreed to join four individuals with disabilities as plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit to demand change in how the police interact with protesters with disabilities. Representing us are attorneys at Miller Nash, Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center (CREEC), and Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC).Together, we are asking for the City of Portland to provide effective communication and reasonable accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including using sign-language interpreters, written signs, and electronic communications equipment to communicate with protesters, predesignated dispersal routes that are accessible, and adequate time for people with disabilities to comply with lawful orders. We are also seeking the end of weapons that target the whole crowd indiscriminately, such as noxious gasses, sound cannons, and strobe lights that cause seizures.
PRESS RELEASE
CASE DOCUMENTS
Wolfe v. City of Portland, Case No. 3:20-cv-01882-BR
November 1, 2020: Complaint
February 9, 2021: Motion for Preliminary Injunction
MEDIA COVERAGE
Plaintiff Stories
