The St. Louis couple who pointed their guns at BLM protesters are suing the journalist who photographed them
- Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who were photographed waving guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in their neighborhood in June, have filed a lawsuit against the photographer who took the photos.
- In a lawsuit filed in St. Louis Circuit Court, the McCloskeys accused UPI photographer Bill Greenblatt of trespassing when he took photos of them brandishing guns.
- The lawsuit also names Redbubble, an online art marketplace, as a defendant, claiming the website sold art of them alongside "mocking and pejorative taglines or captions."
- The McCloskeys were charged with felony unlawful use of a firearm and tampering with evidence in October.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, married St. Louis lawyers who pointed their guns at Black Lives Matter protesters during a demonstration in June, are now suing the journalist who took photos of the incident, saying he was trespassing on their property.
The McCloskeys have been charged with felony unlawful use of a firearm and tampering with evidence after images circulated online of them pointing a semiautomatic rifle with an extended magazine and a handgun at Black Lives Matter protesters who were on their way to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's house.
The couple pleaded not guilty in October, and in a lawsuit filed in St. Louis Circuit Court on Friday, they accused United Press International (UPI) photographer Bill Greenblatt of trespassing when he took photos of them brandishing guns.
"In the time since the trespassers' entrance onto Plaintiffs' private property, Plaintiffs have obtained significant national recognition and infamy, and as a result, have suffered damages," the McCloskeys said in the lawsuit, adding that they've received death threats as well as "shame, humiliation, and garden-variety severe emotional distress."
In addition to suing Greenblatt and UPI, the McCloskeys are suing Redbubble, an online marketplace where people can buy artwork submitted by other users.
The lawsuit alleges that products sold on Redbubble featuring their image often include "mocking and pejorative taglines or captions."
Along with damages, the McCloskeys have also asked the court to transfer ownership of the photo to them, accusing Redbubble, Greenblatt, and UPI of making money off of "t-shirts, masks, and other items, and licensing use of photographs bearing Plaintiffs' likenesses, without obtaining Plaintiffs' consent."
Greenblatt declined to comment on the lawsuit and directed Insider to UPI.
UPI, Redbubble, nor the McCloskeys immediately responded to Insider's requests for comment.
- Read more:
- Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the gun-waving St. Louis couple who threatened protesters outside their home, have been indicted on weapon and evidence-tampering charges
- Hours after the St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters were given felony charges, Missouri's attorney general said he's joining the case to get their charges dismissed
- The St. Louis couple who threatened Black Lives Matter protesters with guns once made children cry after destroying their beehives, report says
- The white St. Louis couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their mansion say they support the movement