The City of Atlanta has reached a significant legal settlement, approving $2 million for two college students who were tasered by police during a 2020 protest over George Floyd’s killing.
The City Council finalized the resolution on July 1.
Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim were pulled over by Atlanta police on May 30, 2020, in downtown Atlanta amid heightened tensions.
Body camera footage revealed officers forcefully smashing the vehicle’s window and deploying a Taser on the students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), subsequently removing them from the car.
The footage, which gained widespread public attention after its release, exacerbated existing tensions between Black Lives Matter supporters and law enforcement.
Young, recording the incident on his phone, protested officers detaining another man who asserted his innocence.
Despite claims from officers that Young possessed a firearm, subsequent police reports confirmed no such weapon was found on him or in the vehicle, as reported by the Associated Press.
The City Council clarified that the settlement does not imply admission of liability by the Atlanta Police Department or its officers.
In a joint statement, attorneys representing Pilgrim—Dianna Lee, L. Chris Stewart, and Justin Miller—expressed the enduring emotional and psychological impact on both students, labeling the incident as unjustifiable police brutality.
Mawuli Davis, representing Young, underscored the significance of the settlement in aiding the victims’ healing process and emphasized ongoing efforts to combat police misconduct.
Following public outcry, then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Police Chief Erika Shields initially terminated two officers involved and placed three others on administrative duties.
Subsequently, six officers faced arrest warrants related to excessive use of force during the incident.
However, in February 2021, the Atlanta Civil Service Board overturned the dismissals, citing procedural lapses in personnel actions. A special prosecutor subsequently dropped all charges against the officers in May 2022.
This settlement not only addresses the specific grievances of Young and Pilgrim but also underscores broader concerns regarding police conduct and accountability amid nationwide calls for reform.
