As jury selection continues for the murder trial of George Floyd, the city of Minneapolis on Friday agreed to pay $27 million to Floyd’s family to settle a civil lawsuit. According to the Associated Press, “Council members met privately to discuss the settlement, then returned to public session for a unanimous vote in support of the massive payout.”
Floyd family attorney Ben Crump called it the largest pretrial settlement ever for a civil rights claim, and thanked city leaders for “showing you care about George Floyd.” Crump added, “It’s going to be a long journey to justice. This is just one step on the journey to justice.”
Crump referenced the Black Lives Matter movement saying, “This makes a statement that George Floyd deserved better than what we witnessed on May 25, 2020, that George Floyd’s life mattered, and that by extension, Black lives matter.”
George Floyd’s sister Bridgett Floyd said in a statement she was glad the lawsuit was resolved. “Our family suffered an irreplaceable loss May 25 when George’s life was senselessly taken by a Minneapolis police officer. 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 all,” she said.
The settlement includes $500,000 for the south Minneapolis neighborhood that includes the 38th and Chicago intersection that has been blocked by barricades since his death, with a massive metal sculpture and murals in his honor.
