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Historic Settlement Delivers Major Victory Against Police for Attack on Racial Justice Activists

Civil Rights Settlement Sends Powerful Warning: Violating Constitutional Rights Has Serious Consequences

Eugene, OR — After nearly six years of relentless litigation, Black Unity and five courageous community organizers have secured a historic civil rights settlement against the City of Springfield, Oregon, for an egregious attack on the right to protest in that will go down in Oregon history.

The court settlement follows several key wins for anti-racism in Springfield’s police department, including the departure of several unprofessional and racist Springfield cops—including the Springfield Chief of Police, 2 lieutenants who were caught making racist remarks and collaborating with violent far right racists, and several police policy changes regarding the use of force permitted by cops.  The legal victor also follows a celebratory and validating federal court opinion thoroughly rejecting every attempt by Springfield and its police officers to escape accountability. Rather than face a jury, the City agreed to resolve the case after the Court found ample evidence to support a finding that the City and its police violated the constitutional rights of racial justice activists, through unlawful suppression of speech, excessive force, political surveillance, and retaliation.

A substantial settlement agreement was reached that will hopefully deter future police misconduct, particularly given the city’s insurance company warning them that additional lawsuits could result in them being dropped by the company. It reflects the extraordinary harms inflicted on these young activists, and sends an unmistakable message to police agencies everywhere: violating constitutional rights carries real consequences.

“This case has always been bigger than Springfield, Oregon,” said Marianne Dugan, lead counsel for the plaintiffs and CLDC’s Director of Civil Litigation. “When police use intimidation, surveillance, violence, and retaliation to silence people demanding racial justice, they attack the very foundation of our democracy. Our clients refused to be intimidated. Because they stood their ground, every person who takes to the streets to speak truth to power is safer today.”

The lawsuit arose from Black Unity’s peaceful July 29, 2020, march protesting a noose displayed in a Springfield neighborhood—a highly triggering symbol of racial terror directed toward the Black community. Instead of protecting the demonstrators’ constitutional rights, Springfield police erected barricades, declared the march unlawful, used force against protesters, and engaged in extensive surveillance of organizers before, during, and after the demonstration.

One of the plaintiffs, Claire Reyna, the co-founder of Black Unity, reflected on the settlement:

“When we filed this lawsuit against the Springfield Police Department, we knew it would be a long journey but one well worth taking. This settlement helps debunk the narrative that we were just a careless group of people trying to cause havoc. Instead it reaffirms who we always were, intelligent and organized community activists standing up for people of color in a small town like Springfield and demanding accountability from our supposed public servants, the Springfield Police Department.

“This settlement, along with the judge’s order regarding the events of July 29, 2020, helps pave the way for future activists. It reiterates that people of color, and those who stand against police misconduct, still have the right to peacefully protest and to exercise our First Amendment rights just as much as anyone else.”

Lauren Regan, Director of Litigation and Advocacy and Senior Attorney at the Civil Liberties Defense Center, said the settlement should resonate far beyond Springfield.

“Police departments have spent decades justifying the violation of people’s constitutional rights as simply the cost of doing business. Now, Springfield has learned otherwise. This settlement should serve as a warning to every law enforcement agency that believes it can target activists, suppress dissent, or spy on political movements with impunity. Communities are watching. Communities are organizing. And communities are winning.”

This case exposed what the federal court recognized as substantial evidence of unconstitutional policing: suppression of protected speech, retaliation against racial justice organizers, unlawful political surveillance, excessive force, and efforts to chill future protest. Rather than defend those actions before a jury, the City of Springfield chose to settle.

This victory belongs first and foremost to the young Black organizers who refused to abandon their principles despite years of litigation. Their determination has strengthened constitutional protections for future generations and affirmed a simple truth: the First Amendment belongs to the people—not to those in power.