George Floyd's Family Gets $27 Million Civil Settlement From Minneapolis
The family of George Floyd reached a settlement on Friday with the city of Minneapolis, receiving $27 million for his brutal death under the knee of former officer Derek Chauvin.
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously, 13-0, as it approved the settlement, which also contains $500,000 for a George Floyd Memorial site at 38th and Chicago. The family filed the civil lawsuit on July 15 of last year.
"Mr. Floyd died because the weight of the entire Minneapolis Police Department was on his neck," family attorney Ben Crump said at that time.
Chauvin is set to stand trial on both murder and manslaughter charges, while the other former officers involved in the heinous event face aiding and abetting charges. They will be tried together in August.
Floyd’s violent, televised death set off protests across the United States and around the world. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey said Floyd's death caused a "century-in-the-making reckoning around racial justice that struck Minneapolis like a thunderbolt.”
Despite the civil victory, the Floyd family said money cannot replace having George alive.
"Even though my brother is not here, he's here with me in my heart," said Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd. "Because if I could get him back, I would give all of this back."
"Our family suffered an irreplaceable loss May 25 when George's life was senselessly taken by a Minneapolis police officer," sister Bridgett Floyd said. "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."