Philadelphia Agrees To Pay $9 Million to BLM Protesters for ‘Pain and Trauma’

City faces $21 million in damages due to civil unrest in 2020

The city of Philadelphia has agreed to pay more than $9 million to more than 200 Black Lives Matter protesters as part of a legal settlement. The protesters claimed that police officers caused mental trauma and physical injuries while responding to rallies that took place in May and June 2020. The city faced $21 million in damages because of civil unrest, according to Security Management.

The lawsuits brought against the city claimed that police brutality and racism caused an immeasurable amount of “pain and trauma” to black residents. Democratic mayor Jim Kenney hopes that the settlement will provide some healing for the affected people, but acknowledges that more steps need to be taken towards reconciliation.

Philadelphia has been struggling with record crime rates and a shortage of police officers. Last year, the city saw 516 homicides, and robbery with a gun increased by more than 20% while auto theft increased by almost 37%, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

Philadelphia police union leader John McNesby says that the city needs over 1,000 more police officers to reach the appropriate number. Even Democratic mayoral candidates want to circumvent District Attorney Larry Krasner on the issue of addressing crime and releasing violent criminals. Krasner’s campaign was funded by a left-wing megadonor George Soros.

Philadelphia is not the only Democrat-run city that has made payouts to BLM protesters. New York City has agreed to pay between $4 and $6 million in damages caused by pepper spraying and zip-tying protesters.