NYC to pay $13M settlement to BLM protesters.

New York City Agrees to $13 Million ⁢Settlement with Protesters

New ⁢York City has reached a groundbreaking settlement with over‍ 1,300 protesters who were arrested or allegedly ‌mistreated ‌by police officers during the summer of 2020. The city has ⁢agreed to pay ⁢out a total of $13 million to compensate the‌ protesters.

Protesters’ Lawsuit and Pending Settlement

A group of law firms representing the protesters recently announced a pending settlement ‌agreement with the city. The settlement, which is awaiting the approval of District‌ Court Judge Colleen M. McMahon, will provide $9,950 to each of ‍the approximately 1,380 protesters who were arrested by the New York City ​Police Department (NYPD) during a series of street protests in Manhattan and‌ Brooklyn between May 28 and June 4, 2020.

Protests in Response to George ‍Floyd’s Death

The protests in New York City occurred in‌ the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis Police custody. ​His tragic passing ignited widespread demonstrations by‍ Black Lives Matter activists⁤ and led to destructive ⁢riots ⁢in various parts ⁤of the country.

Allegations of Police⁤ Misconduct

The plaintiffs, represented by law firms affiliated with the National Lawyers Guild, filed a federal complaint accusing the police of wrongful mass arrests. ⁣The lawsuit claimed that the police used excessive force, including improper use of pepper spray​ and⁣ baton strikes, and ‍subjected⁢ the arrested individuals to unnecessary pain and suffering. The plaintiffs also highlighted the dangerous conditions of ⁤the arrest processing, which put them in close quarters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evidence⁣ of Improper Police Actions

The plaintiffs presented footage showing physical confrontations between protesters and‌ police ⁢officers during the events. This​ evidence supported their claims of mass arrests and excessive force used by the police.

City’s Response and ⁣Settlement Terms

The city’s​ attorneys argued that there⁤ was‌ no systematic effort⁣ to violate protesters’ rights and⁣ denied any history of unconstitutional policing. However, despite their defense, the city agreed to the‍ settlement. The terms state that individuals arrested for certain charges will ⁤be excluded from the payouts, and those who have ⁣already filed and resolved claims will not be covered.