Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim Awarded $2 Million in Damages After Lawsuit Against City of Atlanta

After a three-year-long legal battle, Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim have finally received justice in the form of a $2 million settlement from the City of Atlanta. The young HBCU students were awarded the damages after a harrowing incident that took place in May 2020 during the height of Black Lives Matter protests.

The night in question saw Young and Pilgrim being pulled out of their vehicle, tased, and hit with stun guns by police officers during a curfew imposed by former Mayor Keisha Bottoms. The disturbing incident was captured on body-cam footage and sparked national outrage. Despite the firing of two officers involved, the six officers were later cleared of any charges.

Both Young and Pilgrim suffered physical and emotional trauma from the incident, with Young still haunted by the events of that night. The settlement brings some closure to Pilgrim, who is set to graduate from Spelman College this December, while Young has yet to return to Morehouse College.

The lawsuit, filed one year after the incident, accused the city of assault and false arrest. The Atlanta City Council’s 13-1 vote in favor of the settlement signifies a step towards accountability, although Young’s attorney expressed disappointment in the lack of true accountability in the case.

The incident sheds light on the ongoing issues within the Atlanta Police Department, with residents protesting against the construction of a $90 million police training facility. Despite the settlement, the fight for justice and police reform continues in Atlanta.