CHICAGO — The city has agreed to pay a combined $115,000 to settle two lawsuits stemming from alleged police misconduct during the George Floyd protests in 2020, marking the beginning of what could be a costly wave of litigation tied to that summer’s unrest.
One of the payouts, $75,000, was awarded to Ian Andrew Bowman, a Chicago resident who claimed police used excessive force on him while he participated in the protests. His case was filed and settled within just 39 days, a remarkably swift legal turnaround, according to city records.
Freelance Reporter Receives $40K Settlement
In the second case, the city agreed to pay $40,000 to Jonathan Ballew, a freelance journalist with bylines in Block Club Chicago, Chicago Reporter, and Chicago Sun-Times.
Ballew alleged he was “assaulted with a chemical agent” by officers during the May 30, 2020, protest in River North. He was covering the protests as part of his work and filed suit over the alleged excessive force used by police that day.
As reported in WTTW’s breakdown, both settlements were finalized in August, making these among the first financial resolutions from the city related to the 2020 protests sparked by Floyd’s death.
Criticism Over Media Representation and City Priorities
Despite the lawsuits being filed by two white male plaintiffs, some online critics noted that WTTW’s visual coverage of the story included a photo of a Black woman facing off against police during the protests — a choice that stirred conversations about media framing.
One viral post remarked,
“Chicago paid out $115,000 to white bros for BLM protests and of course WTTW uses a picture of a Black woman in the story.”
More Lawsuits Expected to Follow
These two cases could signal just the start of further legal action against the city. In the wake of the 2020 protests, numerous demonstrators and journalists filed complaints or lawsuits regarding alleged misconduct by the Chicago Police Department.
With this first round of settlements now public, observers expect more financial accountability cases to surface — potentially costing millions in future payouts.
Were you or someone you know impacted by police actions during the 2020 Chicago protests? Share your experiences or opinions in the comments section on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
