Race claims over huge damond payout 20190522 p5x36e.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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This was published 7 years ago

Race claims over huge Damond payout

AAP

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The family of an African American man shot dead by Minneapolis police are demanding a $US20 million ($A29 million) payout equal to what the family of Australian life coach Justine Ruszczyk-Damond received.

Jamar Clark's father said Ms Damond and her family were treated differently because they are white.

"There's no justice for black people," James Clark told a rally outside Minneapolis' federal courthouse.

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"White people get all the justice".

Jamar Clark, 24, was shot in 2015 during a scuffle with two white Minneapolis police officers.

The police officers were not charged.

Ms Damond, 40, originally from Sydney's northern beaches, was shot dead by Somali-American police officer Mohamed Noor after she called 911 in 2017 to report a woman screaming in an alley behind her Minneapolis home.

A jury found Noor guilty last month of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and he faces a 12.5-year prison term when sentenced on June 7.

Ms Damond's father John Ruszczyk and brother Jason filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis last year and just days after the jury's guilty verdict the city agreed to pay the family a record $US20 million.

Mr Clark's family filed a civil lawsuit in 2017 against the city but the parties have not come to an agreement.

Settlement talks continue.

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"We want Jamar Clark's family to get a settlement equal to what Justine's family got," Angel Smith El, a member of the Twin Cities Coalition 4 Jamar, said.

"If Justine's life is worth $US20 million so is Jamar's."

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