City Did Not Defame Roanoke Police Officer In Describing 'End Racism Now' Mural, Judge Rules

Henri Gendreau -
Local artists painted the “End Racism Now” mural on Campbell Avenue in the wake of nationwide protests over the 2020 police killing of George Floyd. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS TRIBBLE / SNAPKRAKLEPOP PHOTOGRAPHY

Roanoke City staff did not defame a police officer when publishing Facebook posts in 2020 about a street mural focused on racism and police brutality, a judge has ruled.

Roanoke police Sgt. Jason Hicks had sued the city, saying that a city employee’s description of the “End Racism Now” mural on Campbell Avenue implied he was fueled by racism when he fatally shot a Black man in 2009.