City Workers Work To Reopen George Floyd Square To Traffic

By Max Nesterak Ricardo Lopez, Minnesota Reformer

June 3, 2021

Minneapolis city workers moved to reopen 38th Street and Chicago Avenue to traffic early Thursday, a little over a year after George Floyd was murdered by former police officer Derek Chauvin there.

For a year, activists held the space in what became known as George Floyd Square, an international symbol of police brutality and racial discrimination, but also healing, justice and community.

City crews — without police — were erecting traffic signs and bike lanes early Thursday. The square will become a roundabout with the iconic fist sculpture now synonymous with George Floyd Square staying in the center.

City workers are reopening George Floyd Square without police a little over a year after George Floyd was killed here and activists closed down 38th and Chicago pic.twitter.com/noQrHaZtp4
— Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) June 3, 2021

For months, reopening the square has been a fraught political challenge. Police pulled back from the area. Some local constituents sought a return to normalcy, including bus service, while others said they were not moving until the city met a list of demands, including more than $150 million in funding for local programs during the next decade.

The square featured community meals, a first aid tent and free library. But some residents said they had grown exhausted with rising crime, including gun fire.

Although the incident was peaceful, activists brought back orange traffic cones, a fire pit and a dumpster to again block traffic.

Security was provided by Agape, a local group paid by the city.

This story is developing.

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