Austin settles with another injured protester bringing payout to $18.9 million
Austin will pay out $100,000 to a woman who sustained injuries during the May 2020 social justice protests after the City Council on Thursday approved the settlement agreement.
The city has now paid more than $18.9 million in protest settlements to 15 people injured by Austin police officers during the May 2020 protests, city officials confirmed Thursday. More than three dozen people went to the hospital, several with critical injuries, during the first week of protests, the American-Statesman previously reported.
In the lawsuit filed in the Western District Court in May 2022, plaintiff Saraneka Alexander claims that two Austin police officers “used brutal and excessive force against her while attending the protests.” Alexander attended a demonstration on May 30, 2020, and was struck by the spray of less-lethal beanbag rounds into the crowd without any apparent justification, the lawsuit alleged.
Austin police have said that beanbag rounds are used to inflict pain to gain compliance from people who are posting a threat to officers or others.
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Additionally, Alexander claimed that police officer Daniel McCameron fired less-lethal rounds at her once and officer Kyu An fired such rounds at Alexander four times, the suit states.
“Video evidence shows that Alexander was doing nothing that would justify such immense use of force,” attorney Tycha Kimbrough states in the lawsuit. “Alexander was struck once in the stomach, then, as she turned to walk away, was struck again in the back.”
The suit states that Alexander was exercising her free speech rights and the officers' response went overboard.
“This use of force was wholly excessive ... and directly caused Alexander to suffer serious injuries,” the lawsuit states.
An is one of 19 Austin police officers charged over their handling of 2020 social justice protests. McCameron is not one of the 19 officers indicted then.
Alexander's is the latest settlement paid by the city as it works its way through several pending cases against Austin police for excessive force. Several protesters said they were injured by less-lethal rounds and abuses by officers in May 2020.
More: Austin police officers indicted in 2020 protests could be released under Texas Senate bill
In May 2020, protests spread across the country after the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Mike Ramos in Austin by police. Local demonstrators organized days of protests against police brutality outside the headquarters of the Austin Police Department and the Capitol.
A September after-action report found that Austin police were “unprepared” for the magnitude of the protests and “undertrained,” citing their lack of understanding of crowd management, riot control, tactics and protocols.
Austin officials said that the city still has nine lawsuits pending from the May 2020 protests.
“The settlement reflects the fact that each case the City receives is different, and we review the facts and circumstances and seek a fair and appropriate resolution for all parties involved,” city spokesperson Shelley Parks said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin settles with injured protester bringing payout to $18.9 million
