Minneapolis City Council on Friday approved a $ 27 million civil settlement with George Floyd’s family over the death of the black man in police custody last year. City council voted 13-0 to approve the settlement, which mandates $ 500,000 to be used for the George Floyd Memorial site on 38th and Chicago.
Derek Chauvin, The former Minneapolis police officer who knelt around Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes is on trial for murder and manslaughter. Three other ex-officers involved in the fatal arrest are charged with complicity and will face joint trial in August. The family case was filed against the city on July 15 because the four former officers violated Floyd’s rights while restraining him, CBS Minnesota reported.
“Mr. Floyd died because the weight of the entire Minneapolis police force was on his neck,” said attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, when the charges were filed.
Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey said Floyd’s death sparked a “century-in-the-making rally around racial justice that hit Minneapolis like a bolt of lightning” and reverberated around the world. Frey said the settlement reflected a commitment to promoting racial justice and thanked Floyd’s family for working with the city in taking reform action.
On Friday, Floyd’s family said they were grateful for the settlement, but said no amount could cure the pain of his loss.
“Even though my brother isn’t here, he’s here with me in my heart,” said Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd. “Because if I could get it back, I’d give all of this back.”
Floyd said his brother started a movement thanking supporters, especially those who took to the streets to protest in the midst of a pandemic.
“You’re putting your life on the line – there’s nothing I can do to pay you back because you’ve shown who you are,” said Philonise Floyd.
Crump called the settlement “historic” and thanked the city leaders, whom he called “progressive and deeply moral.” Crump said the settlement sends a message that the unjust murders of black people should not be written off as “trivial, unimportant, or unworthy of the consequences.”
George Floyd’s family and our legal team are very grateful to Mayor Frey and the City Council for not only saying you care about George Floyd, but showing you care about George Floyd. Crump said.
Crump noted that Saturday is a grim birthday – a year since the deadly police shooting Breonna Taylor in Louisville during a botched police raid. Floyd and Taylor will be “forever linked in history as two people who were taken from us by the people who were meant to protect them,” Crump said.
Floyd’s family has been in touch with Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, Crump said.
Crump also advocated that protesters remain peaceful while Chauvin’s trial continues with jury selection.
In a statement, Bridgett Floyd, Floyd’s sister, who was not in attendance, said, “I am glad this part of our tragic journey to justice has been resolved for my brother George.”
“Our family suffered an irreplaceable loss on May 25 when George’s life was meaninglessly taken by a Minneapolis police officer,” said Bridgett Floyd. “While we will never get our beloved George back, we will continue to work tirelessly to make this world a better and safer place for everyone.”
The lawsuit also said the city allowed a culture of excessive violence and racism to spread within the police station. On Friday, lawyers representing Floyd’s relatives said they are encouraged to the Minneapolis police substantial reforms, but will push for more change.
Attorney Antonio Romanucci said the family hopes more reforms will be made in the police force, including a panel to assess all incidents of violence, a quality assurance unit to ensure that reforms are enforced, and an early intervention system that relies on analyzes for identifying problem officials. He said the settlement should be a “wake-up call” for police forces across the country to quickly implement reforms to avoid unnecessary death and serious injury.
“This case has been set as a watershed moment for civil rights in America and around the world,” said Romanucci. “I can tell you … this feels like a watershed moment for police reform, but only because conscious choices have been made to do it.”