Cop’s Free Speech Suit Over BLM Parody Video Revived on Appeal

A police officer who was allegedly forced to resign after sharing a satirical parody video of Black Lives Matter protests with fellow officers saw his First Amendment suit restored by the Eighth Circuit.

Brian Bresnahan sufficiently alleged that his speech was constitutionally protected because it wasn’t made pursuant to his official duties and involved a matter of public concern, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled Thursday, reversing a lower court’s dismissal. The court noted that its ruling doesn’t mean that he will ultimately prevail in proving that the defendants weren’t justified in acting as they allegedly ...