Father of Jamar Clark says Damond’s family, who received $US20m from Minneapolis, were treated differently

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The family of an African American man shot dead by Minneapolis police are demanding a $US20m ($A29m) payout equal to what the family of the Australian Justine Ruszczyk-Damond received.

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

“There’s no justice for black people,” James Clark told a rally outside Minneapolis’ federal courthouse. “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.

Justine Damond's family awarded record $US20m settlement from Minneapolis Read more

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 prison term of more than 12 years when sentenced on 7 June.

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 $US20m.

Clark’s family filed a civil lawsuit in 2017 against the city but the parties have not come to an agreement. Settlement talks continue.

“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 $US20m, so is Jamar’s.”



