City of Minneapolis reaches $27 million settlement with George Floyd’s family

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The  Minneapolis City Council has unanimously accredited $27 million in settlement for the family of George Floyd, a black man whose death in police custody in May last year sparked nationwide unrest and international condemnation of police brutality and therapy of Black suspects.

The settlement comes simply weeks earlier than the scheduled trial of Derek Chauvin, the  fired Minneapolis police officer charged with homicide in George Floyd’s dying.

Derek Chauvin was seen in a May 25 viral video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for about 9 minutes whereas a handcuffed Floyd cried, “I can’t breathe” and called out for his mother. Chauvin is charged with second-degree homicide and manslaughter, in addition to third-degree homicide.

The three different officers concerned – Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, are charged with second-degree homicide and manslaughter of aiding and abetting. Chauvin and all of the three officers had been fired the day after Floyd’s dying.

The settlement follows a July 2020 federal lawsuit filed by Floyd’s family against the city and the four officers involved in the arrest that led to the death of George Floyd. The settlement features a $500,000 contribution from Floyd’s family to the group on the intersection of thirty eighth and Chicago Avenue, now referred to as George Floyd Square, based on the report.

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“I do want to on behalf of the entire City Council, offer my deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd, his friends and all in our community who are mourning his loss,’ said Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender. “No amount of money can ever address the intense pain or trauma caused by this death to George Floyd’s family or to the people of our city.”

Benjamin Crump, the legal professional representing Floyd’s family hailed the settlement as historic.

“George Floyd’s horrific death, witnessed by millions of people around the world, unleashed a deep longing and undeniable demand for justice and change,” Crump mentioned, calling it the most important pretrial settlement in a wrongful-death case ever. He mentioned it “sends a powerful message that Black lives do matter and police brutality against people of color must end.”

“The city needs to exhibit responsible leadership in the face of the horrific tragedy that really was a watershed moment for America,” Crump mentioned.