George Floyd Protests Spread Across Twin Cities

Demanding justice for Floyd, large crowds stormed Minneapolis and St. Paul
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Protesters outside the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct before the building was set ablaze

Fibonacci Blue/Flickr

Protests throughout the Twin Cities have spread and intensified throughout the week as a community seeks answers following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, 46, died Monday evening after being taken in Minneapolis Police custody. Video showing an officer with his knee on Floyd’s neck during his arrest, allegedly for forgery, outside Cup Foods in south made national news.

Many protests have been peaceful, including crowds walking downtown Minneapolis streets demanding justice for George Floyd outside the Hennepin County Government Center.

But tensions ramped up higher elsewhere. Minnesota’s National Guard has deployed 500 troops in response to violent demonstrations. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building was set on fire on East Lake Street late Thursday evening. Damage and looting has been widespread in the surrounding neighborhood, as well as Midway in St. Paul, Roseville, and other Twin Cities neighborhoods. Buildings were burned to the ground and businesses large and small have been boarded up and closed. This includes Mall of America, Rosedale Center, and 24 metro Target stores. Metro Transit has halted bus and light-rail service in the Twin Cities through Sunday, May 31.

No criminal charges have been filed against the four now-fired officers involved in Floyd’s arrest. On Thursday afternoon, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman promised in a press conference that the investigation—also engaging local representatives from the FBI and Department of Justice—would be thorough, but it would take more time.

A mural painted by local artists Greta McLain, Xena Goldman, and Cadex Herrera now graces the side of Cup Foods.

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