CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Emancipate NC announced yesterday that a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging the actions of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill police officers has been resolved for $42,500, after claims asserting an overbroad search warrant, excessive force, and Americans with Disabilities Act claims survived a motion to dismiss.
The case arose from a September 2024 incident in which UNC-Chapel Hill Police obtained and executed a search warrant for the cellphone and private digital information of UNC undergraduate student Laura Saavedra Forero.
Ms. Saavedra Forero, who uses a wheelchair, attended a constitutionally protected free-speech event on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus on September 19, 2024. Later that day, graffiti was reported at the Naval ROTC building. Ms. Saavedra Forero had no involvement in the vandalism and was never accused of participating in it.
Despite this, UNC police used photographs of her presence at the protest to obtain a warrant authorizing the seizure of her cellphone and broad categories of private information, including photographs, videos, emails, messages, social media communications, and internet browsing history. Additionally, when the three officers came to execute the warrant at Ms. Saavedra Forero’s dormitory, Ms. Saavedra Forero was knocked from her wheelchair while officers were taking possession of her phone.
A cellphone can contain years of personal communications, photographs, location information, browsing history, and other details about a person’s private life. Emancipate sued, challenging the government’s ability to obtain such broad personal information from an individual that was not alleged to have participated in any crime, but was simply present at a protest along with dozens of other people. Emancipate NC also sued for the excessive force utilized in effectuating the search warrant, as well as claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act.
“This case took place during a time when many individuals were facing increased punishment and surveillance for their First Amendment activity on campuses all around the country and it is important that individuals’ First and Fourth Amendment rights remain protected despite the content of their speech and that police provide reasonable accommodations and not engage in excessive force.” said Emancipate NC Staff Attorney Jaelyn Miller.
For Emancipate NC, the case is part of a larger commitment of ensuring that constitutional protections continue to exist and restrain government power, especially when that power is being weaponized in response to an individual exercising their First Amendment rights. The case’s resolution underscores the importance of civil-rights litigation as a tool for protecting constitutional rights and seeking accountability when those rights are violated.
Emancipate NC will continue fighting for strong Fourth Amendment protections and against unreasonable government searches, seizures, surveillance, and use of force.