photo by: Contributed Photo

This contributed photo shows a banner found in South Park in Lawrence on June 27, 2020.

No one will face charges in connection with a banner that was found in downtown Lawrence in late June along with a note decrying the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Douglas County district attorney’s office referred the case to the Lawrence city prosecutor’s office to consider charges, the Journal-World reported in August.

“The City Prosecutor’s Office has declined to file charges in this case because the City believes that First Amendment freedom of speech protections apply to the content of the sign,” Elizabeth Hafoka, supervising city prosecutor, said via email Wednesday.

The banner was about the size of a twin sheet, a person who saw it told the Journal-World on June 27. The image appeared to be spray-painted on fabric, possibly a striped bedsheet. It featured the word “OBEY” alongside a graphic image of, apparently, George Floyd, being lynched by a raised fist bearing the letters “BLM.” The note accompanying the poster described the Black Lives Matter movement as a “lynch mob” and made multiple allegations that the movement was violent and authoritarian.

The banner sparked a protest during which activists occupied a stretch of Massachusetts Street near the Douglas County Courthouse for days on end, demanding an investigation into the banner and note accompanying it, which some protesters described as hate speech.

Lawrence police told the Journal-World at the time that they were investigating the banner to determine whether any crimes were committed.

Related coverage

• Oct. 20, 2020: 2 people to be charged in incidents where vehicles drove into groups of protesters

• Oct. 1, 2020: Douglas County DA still mulling charges in cases of motorists driving into protests; staff says other charged cases differ

• Aug. 5, 2020: Lawrence police submit investigations into banner found at South Park, people driving vehicles into protesters to DA’s office

• July 15, 2020: Protesters call for reforms in Douglas County district attorney’s office, review of former prosecutor’s cases

• July 14, 2020: Lawrence police: No updates on investigations of people driving into protests

• July 2, 2020: Protesters pack up, vacate Massachusetts Street

• July 1, 2020: Judge modifies bond to $500K for murder defendant, who is released the same day after 5 years in jail

• June 30, 2020: Lawrence police say investigations are ongoing into vehicle incidents at protests, graphic banner

• June 30, 2020: Section of Massachusetts Street occupied by protesters will stay closed ‘at least’ through Wednesday; mayor voices support for protesters

• June 29, 2020: Vehicles drive through crowd, 6 demonstrators arrested as protest continues on Massachusetts Street; police barricade road

• June 28, 2020: Part of Massachusetts Street closed as protesters set up tents, demand investigation into ‘heinous and racist’ banner

• June 27, 2020: Protesters gather in Lawrence after graphic, racist banner is found with letter denouncing Black Lives Matter movement

• June 5, 2020: Witnesses hesitant to come forward about people driving through crowds at Lawrence march; police investigating

• June 1, 2020: Overall, organizer pleased with Lawrence march against police brutality; incident involving vehicle in crowd under investigation

• June 1, 2020: Protesters rally in Lawrence for largely peaceful march against police brutality