White House pays $80,000 settlement to Protestors

Posted: 8/20/07 at 6:38pm

A couple arrested at a rally after refusing to cover T-shirts that bore anti-President Bush slogans settled their lawsuit against the federal government for $80,000, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.

Nicole and Jeffery Rank of Corpus Christi, Texas, were handcuffed and removed from the July 4, 2004, rally at the state Capitol, where Bush gave a speech. A judge dismissed trespassing charges against them, and an order closing the case was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Charleston.

"This settlement is a real victory not only for our clients but for the First Amendment," said Andrew Schneider, executive director of the ACLU of West Virginia. "As a result of the Ranks' courageous stand, public officials will think twice before they eject peaceful protesters from public events for exercising their right to dissent."

White House spokesman Blair Jones said the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing.


Updated On: 8/20/07 at 06:38 PM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 6:48pm

this would never have happened if the administration had implemented my policy of summary executions for protesters and their entire families.

Updated On: 8/20/07 at 06:48 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 7:07pm

This is just another nail in the future education coffin for Tony Snow's kids. That 80 large has to come from somewhere.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 7:10pm

that's the last time he say, "if they end up getting a penny, i'll pay the damn thing myself" within earshot of 'berto.