Cincinnati OKs $8.1M 2020 protest settlement
The Cincinnati City Council approved an $8.1 million settlement on Dec. 10, 2025 with 479 non‑violent protesters arrested during May 30–June 8, 2020 racial‑justice demonstrations, resolving claims of police brutality, wrongful arrests, inhumane jail conditions and unlawful property seizures. Hamilton County, whose sheriff and jail were also named, will contribute $65,000, with the city paying the remainder; all curfew misdemeanor charges were previously dismissed amid conflicting court rulings.
📌 Key Facts
- Settlement total: $8.1 million approved Dec. 10, 2025
- Plaintiffs: 479 arrested protesters; only misdemeanor curfew charges (later dismissed)
- Payout shares: City pays most; Hamilton County contributes $65,000
📊 Relevant Data
In Cincinnati, Ohio, the population is 49.4% White alone and 38.7% Black alone according to the 2020 Census.
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cincinnati city, Ohio — U.S. Census Bureau
Black people in Cincinnati comprise 42% of the population but 73% of the subjects of police use of force, according to 2021 data.
Advocacy group points to 'massive racial disparities' in use of force — Cincinnati Enquirer
Nationally, Black people are 2.8 times more likely to be killed by police than White people, based on data through 2025.
Mapping Police Violence — Mapping Police Violence
In 2020, of the estimated arrests for violent crimes in the US, White individuals accounted for 274,280 arrests out of a total of 461,540, while Black individuals accounted for a significant portion, with Black Americans representing 13% of the population but higher arrest rates per capita for violent offenses.
Arrests by offense, age, and race — Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
The rate of fatal police shootings among Black Americans is 6.1 per million, higher than for other ethnicities.
People shot to death by U.S. police 2017-2024, by race — Statista