Report from Minneapolis

[LAS14]

Last edited Sat May 30, 2020, 10:10 AM - Edit history (1)

I got this from a friend in Minneapolis two days ago (the 27th). Some of it may be out of date.

There is a level of rage right now in Minneapolis and in the larger African American community throughout the Twin Cities that has produced non stop demonstrations, property damage to police cars and the 3rd Precinct police station ( which is about 1/2 mile from where we I live ). There is looting happening at a nearby Target store and liquor store with a nearby Auto Zone company set on fire tonight by some demonstrators. The police are periodically escalating their response with rubber bullets, tear gas and flash bangs. One sign I saw today said: “GEORGE FLOYD IS LAYING IN THE MORGUE WHILE HIS KILLER IS EATING DINNER AT HOME. WHY?” That is a question on everyone’s minds.

There are three and four helicopters that have been in the air most of the day today, above our house as they circle around giving each other access over the site. It feels like we are living in a combat zone. I have heard voices of moderation out there on the street but not yet any organized response by faith communities, Black pastors or community leaders other than nearby Lutheran congregations that are providing food, water and respite for demonstrators. It’s 10pm here right now. More helicopters are overhead again. And the news is reporting more looting. I can hear the large bangs of some kind of devices being fired or fireworks being thrown.

The most important thing that could happen at this moment is the arrest and handcuffing ( on TV or video ) of the officer who murdered George Floyd. The community at large has to see some kind of response giving everyone hope that justice will be served in this case. Our two mayors, Mayor Frey( white ) in Minneapolis and Mayor Carter ( African American ) in St. Paul have been good. Governor Tim Walz, his lieutenant governor, State Attorney General Keith Ellison and the head of MN Public Safety all spoke at a 2pm session today and were very good. Our Minneapolis Chief of Police, Maderia Arrondondo, is asking his officers to maintain restraint and allow all peaceful demonstrations. But there are many, many outraged, angry and rage-filled young people on the streets all day today and still tonight.

I should mention that there is a 2nd demonstration, a vigil and peaceful demonstration over at the location where George Floyd was killed.

One possible problem with the FBI and other Federal Agencies involved is that their meticulous investigation of the death, the knee strangulation and the probable Civil Rights violations could delay any arresting and charging actions until they complete their investigation. That has taken weeks and months in the past. If this goes on without some accountability placed soon on those four officers then this summer will be a violent and chaotic summer here in the Twin Cities. Today pictures from a few years ago of the officer who killed George Floyd have showed up. The officer is seen wearing a Trump-red baseball cap with the words: “MAKE WHITES GREAT AGAIN” stenciled across the front of the cap. That was just more fuel for the fires of anger and rage on the street.

I will be over there again tomorrow and will update you on what is going on. But I don’t want to give any suggestion that I have influence on the demonstrators at this point. I am just one of many white supporters on the street adding our voices and bodies to these demonstrations.

I was asked how this demonstrations, the looting, the property damage and the fires will stop. That is not easy to answer as long as the officer who killed Floyd is free. Some kind of significant police or judicial action must happen soon. Firing the officers right away, as Minneapolis Mayor Frey and Minneapolis Chief of Police Arrondondo did, has not calmed people’s anger and rage. Right now fireworks are going off around the city and over near the police station, adding to our nervousness during this chaotic time. So far, thankfully, counter demonstrators have not shown up. At this point that would be incendiary to say the least.