Several individuals involved in the Seattle protests have come together to file a lawsuit seeking taxpayer money to pay for expensive anti-police protective gear.

According to news reports, the lawsuit claims that having to purchase gas masks, boots, gloves, helmets and other gear deprives poorer demonstrators of their First Amendment rights.  In response, criminal defense attorney Brian Claypool calls the suit "out of bounds."

"You’ve got to be kidding me that you’re asking a court that taxpayers should pay for protective gear," Claypool said. "You’re asking a court that is supposed to be interpreting the law, not making the law, to then prescribe what levels of force that police officers can use in very fluid and volatile situations."

"You can’t charge people and make people have to buy expensive stuff in order to protest," countered Andrew Stoltmann, an attorney and adjunct law professor at Northwestern University. 

Claypool warned that if the plaintiffs win the lawsuit, it might encourage protestors to become more violent "because now the taxpayers are arming them with all this gear."

The Seattle City Attorney’s office intends to defend the city. The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order that would prohibit the use of force by city police.

—Source: foxnews.com