Al Flowers Sues City Council Member Don Samuels. Again. New Details.

Flickr.com, Fountain, Hennepin County Government Center

I am in possession of a press release which announces a lawsuit by Alfred "Al" Flowers against City Councilmember Don Samuels...

The document I have bears no author, address or phone number but was forwarded to some members of the press. A member of the press forwarded it to me, and I gave that member of the press some information...including the fact I was standing just a few feet from the "altercation" between Flowers and Samuels. I never saw Samuels elbow Flowers or step on his feet. I did see Flowers give Samuels a quick, hard shove while Samuels had his back very deliberately turned on Flowers. I saw police remove Flowers, who was uncooperative and argumentative with police, and was physically removed by officers.

In any case, here is the press release:

Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels Sued

Again

For Violation Of First Amendment Rights

October 2005: Alfred Flowers sued Don Samuels for getting Flowers suspended from hosting television shows at Minneapolis Television Network. Flowers had criticized Samuels, who was running for re-election that year. Flowers prevailed in November 2007, when a federal jury awarded him punitive damages against Samuels. Punitive damages are designed to deter future violations.

But according to Flowers, it has not been enough to deter Samuels.

Samuels is running again. This time, according to witnesses, Samuels physically accosted Flowers to try to prevent him from speaking out on an important issue.

Similar to some 2005 allegations, the 2009 complaint essentially alleges that Samuels got others to do his bidding: instead of taking Samuels to task, police who arrived physically pushed Flowers out of the meeting--yet Samuels was allowed to remain,police said, due to his "status."

Flowers said, "this time, it's necessary to seek an injunction, to prevent Samuels, and those who do his bidding at the City of Minneapolis, from abusing our rights."

The document then announces a "Press Conference" at the Hennepin County Government Center, 2nd Floor--by fountain, for today, Thursday, January 22, 2009, 10:00 a.m. and promises "Flowers, his legal counsel, and several witnesses will be present."

Gee, I was a witness, and nobody called me.

The document concludes, "Copies of the complaint that initiated the lawsuit will be available."