City of Tulsa to pay $700,000 settlement to woman arrested at 2020 Trump rally

The City of Tulsa has agreed to pay $700,000 to Sheila Buck, a woman who was arrested outside former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign rally at the BOK Center, following a legal battle over alleged violations of her constitutional rights.

Related: Woman arrested outside Trump rally in Tulsa reaches settlement with city, awarded $700,000

Tulsa police officers arrested Buck after she refused to leave a gated area near the venue, despite holding a ticket to the event. She was charged with obstructing an officer, but in September 2023, a Tulsa County jury acquitted her of that charge.

Following the incident, Buck sued the city, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated because she was peacefully present in a public area.

The city had initially agreed to a $1 million settlement in 2023, but that agreement was rejected by the Tulsa City Council, which must approve any payouts exceeding $1 million. Because the new $700,000 settlement falls below that threshold, the City Council does not need to approve it.

Related: Tulsa DA's Office Wins Appeal, Obstruction Case Dismissed Against Protestor Arrested At Trump Rally