New York City has agreed to pay $52,000 to two protesters after they were arrested for swearing at police officers.
The two protesters, Nicholas Thommen, aged 31, and Channing Creager, aged 26, were both arrested in 2013 for giving the middle finger to police officers.
The officers arrested them on charges of disorderly conduct.
They then sued the city for violating their constitutional right to express themselves.
Their suit states: ‘Thommen and Creager gestured toward Bowman and Harrigan with their middle finger raised, an internationally recognized symbol of dislike and displeasure, and in doing so exercised their constitutional right, guaranteed under the state and federal constitutions, to freely express themselves.’
A spokesperson for the city Law Department said the settlement was in the best interest of New York.
Their lawyers released a statement saying: ‘Our clients are pleased with the city’s acknowledgement of their First Amendment right to express themselves even when those expressions may be considered offensive, controversial, or unpopular.’
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