Four U.S. and German journalists settled their lawsuit against St. Louis County for violating their First Amendment rights during the Ferguson protests in 2014. In settling, the county stated that they would adopt policies to address issues cited in the lawsuit and commit to keep the public informed while protecting the community. (Courthouse News Service, May 11, 2016, by Joe Harris)
In their federal lawsuit the journalists claimed that they were held without probable cause and the victims of physical assault. Two of the reporters said while interviewing protesters they were unable to retreat to their car fast enough to comply with police orders and were shot with rubber bullets and arrested with their hands up and press credentials in evidence. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 11, 2016, by Robert Patrick)