Boulder Reporting Lab: Darren O’Connor, a former executive committee member of the NAACP Boulder County branch, is suing the City of Boulder, alleging that city officials retaliated against him for publicly criticizing the appointment of Police Chief Steve Redfearn.

The lawsuit, filed April 29 in U.S. District Court, claims the city sought to discredit O’Connor by spreading false information about him and referring him for criminal prosecution. He alleges these actions were retaliation for his constitutionally protected speech.

“Such serious, repetitive efforts to silence my voice as a community member, a lawyer, and as a member of the NAACP led me to pursue this lawsuit,” O’Connor said in an emailed statement. “No one should be retaliated against for exercising their First Amendment rights to associate and to criticize a public official.” 

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