SL County Settles Dispute With Protesters (UT / animal rights)

(ABC 4 News)-- Salt Lake County has reached a settlement with two animal rights protesters, who claim they were assaulted by a government employee. ABC 4 News has the exclusive home video of the incident.

The activists were handing out pamphlets near Abravanel Hall in December 2004, when they were confronted by Salt Lake County Sheriff's Deputies. A civilian employee of the county joined the discussion minutes later. That's when things reportedly got rough.

Protester Sean Dinier says the county employee grabbed a pamphlet out of his hand and threw it at another activist.

"They were confronted in a very hostile, unpleasant way," said attorney Brian Barnard. "It seems to me that is allowing the county and this particular employee to trample on the first amendment rights of people." <snip>

http://www.4utah.com/local_news/local_headlines/story.aspx?content_id=0F13355C-8AAC-4C0B-9477-CB82006C0A04