The city council of Minneapolis has voted unanimously to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of George Floyd for $27 million, according to The New York Times. 

Floyd's death, which came after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes, sparked global outrage and protests that lasted for months, as Blavity previously reported. 

The settlement, which Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he would sign, is one of the largest in the country's history.

The family filed the lawsuit against the city in July 2020 and Floyd's brother, Rodney Floyd, said in a statement that it was necessary for them to move forward. 

“Our family is grateful for all those who care so deeply about George's life and our loss, and this agreement is a necessary step for all of us to begin to get some closure. George’s legacy for those who loved him will always be his spirit of optimism that things can get better, and we hope this agreement does just that — that it makes things a little better in Minneapolis and holds up a light for communities around the country,” he said. 


The settlement was finalized right as jurors are being chosen for Chauvin's trial, where he is facing murder charges for his actions on May 25, 2020. Video shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck even as bystanders beg for him to stop and Floyd himself repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe."

The city previously paid $20 million to Justine Ruszczyk's family in 2019 after an officer shot her to death in 2017, as Blavity previously reported. 

Last year, the city of Louisville paid the family of Breonna Taylor $12 million in a settlement that came before prosecutors declined to press charges against the officers who shot her to death. 

In the past, other cities have had to dole out millions in taxpayer dollars to the families of those killed by the police. New York City paid out $5.9 million to the family of Eric Garner and Baltimore settled with the family of Freddie Gray for $6.4 million.  

Part of Floyd's settlement will include a donation of $500,000 to community efforts that have grown around the area where Floyd was killed. 

"When George Floyd was horrifically killed on May 25, 2020, it was a watershed moment for America. It was one of the most egregious and shocking documentations of an American citizen being tortured to death by a police officer…one of the worst ever witnessed in history," noted civil rights attorney Ben Crump said during a press conference, according to local news outlet KARE11.

"And history will judge us for how we responded to this tragedy. History will judge us on our commitment to the principles of equality in response to this tragedy," he added.

Frey said in a statement that Floyd's death has "dramatically shifted our city’s trajectory," and added that the settlement was a "milestone in shaping a more just future for Minneapolis."

"Our settlement with George Floyd’s family reflects a shared commitment to advancing racial justice and a sustained push for progress," Frey added. 

As of Friday morning, half of the jury has been selected for the trial of Chauvin, who is now facing second and third-degree murder charges as well as a manslaughter charge. The Washington Post noted that three of those chosen for the jury are white men. 

“No amount of money can ever address the intense pain or trauma caused by this death to George Floyd's family or to the people of our city. Minneapolis has been fundamentally changed by this time of racial reckoning and this city council is united in working together with our community, and the Floyd family to equitably reshape our city of Minneapolis,” Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said after the vote on the settlement, according to BuzzFeed News. 

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