A $2.9 million settlement for Anjanette Young was approved by City Council Wednesday.
Young, the Chicago woman who was handcuffed while naked by police officers during a botched raid of her home in 2019, has been fighting for justice for over two years.
Young had just finished her shift at the hospital and had gone into her bathroom to undress. She then heard loud knocks on her door before officers broke the door down using a battering ram.
Young filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requesting the video to show the public what happened to her that day. Chicago Police denied her request, but a court ordered them to hand over the footage.
Despite being naked, officers left her standing naked before eventually attempting to cover up her nude body. Young was visibly upset and repeatedly told officers that they had the wrong address.
Young and her legal team have been trying to get a settlement from the city quietly. Since the incident, she has been diagnosed with PTSD and depression. In an interview with The New York Times, she shared that sirens and loud noises give her panic attacks. She takes medication to try and keep it together.
The city initially rejected a $1 million settlement. According to The Times, she was offered “$0 to resolve this matter.”
Alderwoman Jeanette B. Taylor of Chicago’s 20th Ward said, “2.9 million may seem like a lot, but it will never give Ms. Young back her dignity and respect and the trust that she’s lost.” She added, “Let’s do something different about how we do house raids and how we treat women, how we treat young people.”
