BLM Protester found not at fault: $6M Verdict

Photo byTheo BickelonUnsplash

A King County jury has decided that Black Lives Matter protester Summer Taylor did not break any laws when she was struck and killed on Interstate 5 by an oncoming car during a protest on July 4, 2020, Stritmatter Kessler Koehler Moore has announced.

"The State attempted to paint our child a criminal. The jury disagreed," Dalia Taylor, Summer's mother, said. "Let us all honor Summer’s memory by living with compassion, moving forward without fear, and boldly rejecting beliefs and practices that harm and hold us back. Today is another step toward a more perfect union."

The jury, according to the law firm, placed full responsibility on Dawit Kelete, who is serving prison time for driving while impaired, driving the wrong way up an off-ramp, and striking the protesters.

A total of $6 million in state dollars will be awarded to the Estate of Summer Taylor, the law firm announced further, though the State of Washington will not be held liable as the Taylor family's lawsuit originally demanded.

"We don’t think the jury should have let the state off the hook. But they did. So be it," said attorney Karen Koehler, who represented Taylor in the trial.