AURORA, Colorado – On a summer day in 2020, the normally delightful occasion of a girls’ day out turned into a traumatic ordeal for Brittany Gilliam and her four Black daughters. The 6-year-old Lovely, her teenage cousin, and two nieces found themselves lying facedown in a parking lot, crying “no” and “mommy,” as they watched their mother being led away in handcuffs after police mistakenly believed the car they were in was stolen.
After three long years, the Denver suburb of Aurora has reached a $1.9 million settlement with Gilliam and the girls to settle a lawsuit claiming police officers’ actions were a testament to systemic racism. David Lane, the family’s lawyer, announced this settlement, which will save the girls from reliving the trauma of a trial.
The settlement will be divided equally among Gilliam and her four daughters, with the girls’ portions being placed into annuities to grow by the time they turn 18. The City of Aurora spokesperson has not yet commented on the settlement.
This settlement marks the latest in a series of payouts for police misconduct in Aurora. The city settled for $15 million in 2021 with the parents of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who was killed in 2019 after an encounter with police. The state’s civil rights investigation, released after Gilliam’s lawsuit was filed, found evidence of deeply ingrained racially biased policing in the department.
This incident, caught on body camera video, triggered outrage following protests over racial injustice from George Floyd’s killing. The video showed police seemingly confused about how to handle the situation when they realized children were inside the vehicle.
Upon realizing their mistake, officers kept their guns drawn for about three-and-a-half minutes and removed the girls’ handcuffs after about eight-and-a-half minutes. For Gilliam, the encounter left her full of rage for the first year, feeling helpless to protect her children.
But a year later, Gilliam gave birth to another daughter, prompting her to let go of her anger and focus on healing. “I wanted justice, but at the same point, I couldn’t be angry,” she said.
This settlement not only brings closure to Gilliam and her daughters but also sends a message to law enforcement across the country to exercise discretion in their responses to situations. Lane hopes this settlement will encourage law enforcement to use common sense in their decision-making.
Gilliam said that her daughter, who was previously joyous, started acting out and became withdrawn after the encounter with the police. However, with the birth of her new daughter, Gilliam felt compelled to let go of her anger and focus on healing.
The traumatic incident highlights the urgent need for police departments to review their training and policies to ensure that nothing like it happens again. The video of this incident echoes the nationwide call for police accountability and reform.