Alton Sterling was shot and killed by police officers at a convenience store in Baton Rouge, La., sparking days of protests. The city has settled with some protesters who sued, claiming their rights to peaceful protest and assembly were violated. Photo via Facebook
BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Baton Rouge's City Council approved a $100,000 settlement to 92 protesters arrested after Alton Smith was killed outside a convenience store by police.
Each of the protesters who filed a lawsuit against the city claiming their rights to freedom of speech and to peaceable assemble were violated will receive $230, according to the settlement approved Tuesday. The costs will be split by city government, Louisiana State Police, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office and the district attorney's office. Besides the payouts, roughly $25,000 will go toward bonding fees, attorney's fees and other costs, Parish Attorney Lea Anne Batson said.
Two of the 12 council members voted against the settlement.
"To me, this encourages that type of behavior to happen in the future," Councilman John Delgado said. "I have no interest in paying $100,000 in taxpayer dollars to people who are coming into our city to protest."
Hundreds of people took to the streets after the death of Sterling just after midnight July 5. Police had responded to a 911 call by a homeless man who said he was being threatened outside a convenience store by someone with a gun. Sterling had been selling CDs outside the store.
Sterling allegedly resisted arrest and officers used a Taser on him when he didn't respond. Cellphone video showed Sterling being pinned down by officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake. Sterling was shot in the chest and back six times.
Although there were numerous arrests, the district attorney's office in East Baton Rouge Parish declined to prosecute the protesters. Most were arrested on misdemeanor charges of obstructing a highway. DeRay Mckesson, a prominent civil rights activist, was among those arrested.
An unnamed Baton Rouge police officer also filed a lawsuit earlier this month against Mckesson and the Black Lives Matter movement. The officer said he lost teeth and sustained other injuries during the protests. Mckesson is accused of inciting violence.
The U.S. Justice Department is conducting a civil rights investigation into Sterling's death.
