Cincinnati has agreed to a multi-million-dollar settlement with protesters who were arrested during the George Floyd demonstrations in 2020. According to WLWT, the settlement will total $8,143,000, compensating hundreds of individuals approximately $13,000 each. These arrests were made during a period when the city imposed a curfew in response to the protests that arose from the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
The city faced a class-action lawsuit after more than 400 people were detained for violating curfew and misconduct during an emergency. Despite the city later dismissing these charges, the lawsuit claimed the protesters' constitutional rights were violated. The settlement has moved from a City Council committee to expect a full vote, as reported by FOX19. If approved, it will then need to be confirmed by a federal district judge.
As the agreement surfaces, not only have the actions of individual officers come into question, but also the guidelines they were compelled to follow. A piece in The Enquirer notes the notable silence from the city's political elite, past and present, effectively leaving the responsibilities and potential blame on the police force.
