State Police Donation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DAVID BROWNLOW
JULY 9, 2007 EX. DIR. (503) 307-3851

Believers Against The War
ACCEPTS GENEROUS “DONATION”
FROM OREGON STATE POLICE

Clackamas, OR - The founders of BELEIVERS AGAINST THE WAR have announced the settlement of their lawsuit against the Oregon State Police and Senior Trooper Ken Moore. On December 9, 2006, an incensed Trooper Moore confronted David and Suzanne Brownlow, along with their 12-year-old daughter, while they were protesting the Iraq war on a public sidewalk in the Clackamas Town Center area.

The Brownlows, who have a son currently dodging mortar fire in Iraq, were holding a 10-foot banner, visible to the traffic on Interstate 205 that read, SUPPORT OUR TROOPS – BRING THEM HOME!

In the ensuing confrontation, trooper Moore told the Brownlows they were breaking the law by displaying their banner, and threatened to arrest them if they did not leave the area. The family refused to leave, stating that they had a Constitutional right to stand on a public sidewalk with their banner. The trooper forcibly took the banner out of their hands, and remanded the Brownlows to a nearby parking lot for further questioning – effectively, ending their protest.

The Brownlows filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Trooper Moore.

According to the Oregon State Police, an internal investigation into the incident led to a three month suspension of Trooper Moore. In addition, he received a reduction in pay upon his return to active duty. The Brownlows accepted a $25,000 settlement from the state of Oregon.

David Brownlow, Executive Director of BELEIVERS AGAINST THE WAR, said, “Unfortunately, the only way to get anyone’s attention at the state level is to sue somebody for a lot of money. But, this was never about the money, or what happened to my family. This was about holding our public servants accountable to obey the Constitution they swore and oath to defend.”

Brownlow continued, “My wife and I will be using our portion of this settlement to further our anti-war efforts – with our first donation going to www.beitshalomministries.org, who are facing a similar harassment from various law enforcement agencies as they walk across America, calling Christians to repent of their support for the occupation of Iraq. We will be using the publicity surrounding this incident to encourage other anti-war demonstrators that our Constitution is alive and well, and it still protects our inalienable to right to free speech and peaceable assembly.”

A copy of the settlement letter is posted at www.BelieversAgainstTheWar.org.

-#-

Ending the war is our moral duty.

Believers Against The War
P.O. Box 2965, Clackamas, OR 97015
(503) 307-3851
dave@believersagainstthewar.org

www.BelieversAgainstTheWar.org

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