Part 8/13:
The lawsuit, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, claims that the relentless protests amount to a public nuisance and a violation of Grail’s civil rights. It requests the court to enforce existing noise ordinances, particularly within 500 feet of her residence, and seeks immediate relief due to her health issues. Grail, who is Black and disabled, states that the noise exposure has caused her physical harm—including bleeding ears—and has kept her confined in her room.
This legal action underscores a broader debate over free speech versus public safety and the rights of residents versus protestors. Grail’s attorney emphasizes that she simply wants quiet, a basic right severely hampered by Portland’s leniency towards disruptive protests.