New York City and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have agreed to pay millions of dollars to protesters who were subjected to excessive violence, detained, and arrested during a George Floyd protest on June 4, 2020 in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx in New York City.
The settlement agreement, filed on February 28, provides that over 300 protesters who were treated unfairly and with excessive force that day, including “kettling,” will each receive $21,500.
It will be the largest settlement amount ever received by an individual involved in a mass arrest class action suit. The city must dig deep into its pockets to cover the nearly $7 million settlement.
According to the court filing, New York City agreed to pay $21,500 to each eligible class action suit member and an additional $2,500 to those who received a desk appearance ticket.
The two named plaintiffs in the lawsuit would also receive an additional $21,500 as a “service reward.”
Attorney Ali Frick stated that they were very pleased with the outcome because the police used premeditated force against people peacefully protesting police brutality on that day.
According to the lawsuit, which named NYC, the NYPD, and individual high-ranking NYPD officers as defendants, police used zip ties to restrain 320 protesters, beat them, and pepper sprayed them.
Plaintiff’s attorneys argued that the proposed settlement was reasonable, fair, and adequate, and they asked the court to approve it.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department stated that the June 4 protests were difficult for officers because they were dealing with the pandemic while also attempting to facilitate peaceful protests amid acts of violence and lawlessness such as rioting, chaos, and mass destruction.
Henry Wood, one of the protesters, stated that the settlement was a relief, but it would not change the events of that day, adding that the police violence was intentional and unwarranted.
Outrage over the death of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020, sparked the protest.
According to the lawsuit, NYC police “arrested and charged the protestors without probable cause and subjected them to excessive force, as part of a planned police action involving some of the most senior members of the NYPD.”
After receiving widespread criticism for their handling of the protestors, the NYPD reviewed and changed its policies on large-scale demonstrations.