The Blubber

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs have announced that the city of New York will pay $13 million to hundreds of individuals who were arrested during the George Floyd demonstrations in 2020. This settlement is reported to be the largest ever awarded to protesters in the United States.

The protests occurred in New York City and various other locations nationwide following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for approximately nine minutes while he pleaded for help, repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe."

According to a statement released by the plaintiffs' attorneys, the city has agreed to pay $9,950 to each of the more than 1,300 protesters who were arrested by the New York police between May 28 and June 4, 2020. However, the settlement is subject to approval by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon and excludes individuals arrested for charges such as arson or property destruction.

Remy Green, one of the plaintiff attorneys, emphasized the significance of the settlement, acknowledging that while it provides financial restitution to a significant number of protesters, the city will continue to incur expenses until steps are taken to address the NYPD's problematic conduct.

In response, the New York Police Department issued a statement indicating that they have implemented numerous improvements in their handling of protests, particularly those that occurred during the pandemic. They expressed the city's commitment to ensuring public safety and protecting the rights of peaceful expression.

Court documents reveal that protesters in 18 different locations, including Union Square, Central Park, and Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, were subjected to inappropriate use of pepper spray, excessive force with batons, and other unlawful tactics such as "kettling."