Chicago council committee approves $280K for woman hurt in 2020 protests

• The Chicago City Council Finance Committee approved a $280,000 settlement for Miracle Boyd, injured during the July 2020 protests.
• Boyd claimed excessive force by a former police officer caused her injury. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability recommended the officer’s termination, but the officer resigned instead.
• The settlement will go before the full City Council on Wednesday.

---

Full Story

The Chicago City Council Finance Committee awarded $280,000 to a woman who had a tooth knocked out. The incident occurred during an altercation with police during the July 2020 protests.

During the chaos, protesters were attempting to tear down the Christopher Columbus statue, which was located in Grant Park at the time. Protesters threw objects like rocks, fireworks, and frozen water bottles at police officers.

Miracle Boyd filed a lawsuit claiming that a now-former Chicago police officer used excessive force, striking her in the face and knocking out a tooth. Boyd stated that the city should be responsible.

“I just really hope that CPD gets itself together and these alders continue to grant justice to all victims and survivors of police violence through the city of Chicago,” Boyd said.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) concluded that the officer used excessive force and lied in his report. COPA recommended the officer’s termination, but he instead resigned from his position. The officer did not face criminal charges.

Alderman Jeanette Taylor of the 20th Ward said she personally knows Boyd and feels the settlement is insufficient.

“There’s plenty to be said here, and I’ll say what I got to say, but I just want to say this. I really don’t have to say anything. I feel like the young people, and Miracle herself said enough, but we gonna be here and $280,000 ain’t enough to fix what was broken that day,” Ald. Jeanette Taylor of the 20th Ward said.

Alderman Nicholas Sposato of the 38th Ward disagreed.

“These people were there to do nothing but wreak havoc, fight with the police, and tear down a statue because they didn’t agree with the art that’s been up for 90 years,” Ald. Nicholas Sposato of the 38th Ward said.

The Finance Committee voted 22 to 7 in favor of Miracle Boyd’s $280,000 settlement. The settlement will go before the full City Council on Wednesday.

Chicago taxpayers funded at least $107.5 million in lawsuits alleging police misconduct in 2024 alone, according to WTTW News.