The D.C. police department agreed to pay $685,000 and take steps to protect protesters from police abuse and ensure their rights to settle a lawsuit over the treatment of demonstrators at President Bush's inauguration in 2001.

The Partnership for Civil Justice announced a settlement of its landmark lawsuit against the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department that arose in connection with the demonstrations against the 2001 inauguration of George W Bush.

Civil rights lawyers representing protesters at President Bush's 2001 inauguration announced a settlement Tuesday with District of Columbia police that includes changes in department policies for handling demonstrations.

This litigation, brought by the Partnership for Civil Justice also on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild, first exposed the use of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces against political dissenters, and revealed that the District of Columbia police department has been carrying out an illegal ongoing domestic spying operation in which officers are sent on long-term assignments to pose as political activists. Read more