A man who played a role in a flag burning incident outside the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland has settled a lawsuit with the city, the Chandra Law Firm announced Wednesday.
Steven Fridley was one of 12 protesters who initially faced criminal charges after activist Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag back on July 20, 2016. Johnson was the plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson that ruled laws against flag burning violated the First Amendment, and attorneys say Fridley was part of a "safety circle" formed around Johnson as he burned the flag again.
However, Cleveland police arrested Johnson (even though he claims he properly informed city officials of his intended actions) along with Fridley and other members of the circle. Fridley himself was charged with obstructing official business, aggravated disturbance of the peace, and disobeying a lawful order, and the case remained on the books until October of 2017, when Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Charles L. Patton dismissed all charges against all protesters citing the precedent set by Texas v. Johnson.
Fridley filed a lawsuit this past October, claiming the city and the division of police manufactured "sham charges" to "conceal their politically motivated censorship of a lawful protest." Lawyers say today's settlement totals $50,000.
Said Patrick Kabat, one of Fridley's attorneys:
"This case is a timely reminder that respect for dissent is more patriotic than censorship, and even clear instructions from the Supreme Court cannot prevent Orwellian ordeals. Our officers must protect our freedom to criticize our government, not enforce their own politics. Mr. Fridley’s liberty remained in jeopardy for a year because he exercised First Amendment freedoms the Supreme Court guaranteed decades ago to the very man whose protest he joined. Nothing can restore the speech the City silenced, but we hope his voice resumes."
A separate lawsuit filed by Johnson (who is also represented by Chandra) remains pending. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones had also been named in the suit due to statements he apparently made to police, but he was later dropped.
