Suit Over Police Sweep of S.F. Gay Area Settled
Three years after a police sweep of San Francisco’s gay Castro District, AIDS activists and the city Monday agreed to settle a lawsuit accusing the police of harassment and brutality.
Plaintiffs and members of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, which sponsored an Oct. 6, 1989, protest that ended with the sweep, expressed mixed feelings over the accord.
“This is a vindication of our rights to demonstrate, to act up, to demand change in a system that does not meet our needs,” said Laura Thomas, a member of ACT UP/San Francisco.
Lawyers for both sides said the city admitted no wrongdoing but will pay the 18 plaintiffs a total of $225,000. The plaintiffs will then give back $75,000 to divide equally among three city-run or city-funded programs to help people with the AIDS virus.
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