HBCU STUDENTS AWARDED COMPENSATION FOLLOWING CONTROVERSIAL INCIDENT (473 hits)
In May 2020, Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim, students at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges respectively, were driving through Atlanta during a curfew imposed amidst nationwide protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The situation escalated when Atlanta police officers pulled them from their vehicle, subjected them to tasing, physical force, and unwarranted detention. This incident, captured on body-cam footage and widely shared, triggered widespread condemnation and protests.
In response, Young and Pilgrim filed a lawsuit against the City of Atlanta in June 2021, alleging assault and false arrest. The lawsuit highlighted the excessive use of force and mistreatment they endured at the hands of the police. Despite initial actions such as the firing of two officers by former Police Chief Erika Shields, subsequent reinstatements, and the exoneration of six other officers underscored the frustration over accountability.
After a protracted legal battle, the City of Atlanta agreed to a $2 million settlement with Young and Pilgrim in July 2023, approved by a decisive 13-1 vote by the Atlanta City Council. While the settlement provided financial compensation, it fell short of addressing broader demands for police accountability and systemic reform. Young and Pilgrim expressed mixed emotions—relief at closing this chapter, yet haunted by the lasting impact of that traumatic night.
The case has become a focal point in Atlanta's ongoing reckoning with issues of police misconduct and racial injustice. Public discontent has intensified with the city's decision to allocate significant funds for a new police training facility amidst persistent calls for redirecting resources towards community support and reform initiatives. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in achieving substantive change in policing practices and racial equity in American cities.
