At George Floyd Plaza, the work continues regardless of a verdict While the jury deliberates downtown, activists at the site of Floyd’s death focus on praying, grieving and resisting
MINNEAPOLIS – “On May 25, 2020, George Floyd died,” prosecutor Steve Schleicher said in court Monday as closing arguments began in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin. “Facedown on the pavement, right on 38 th and Chicago.” At that moment, three miles due south, at the dead center of the intersection of 38 th Street and Chicago Avenue, a giant metal Black Lives Matter fist rose skyward, surrounded by photos of Floyd and other victims of racist violence. For a full block in all four directions, residents barricaded the streets to traffic. Murals, memorials and countless mementos are everywhere. Hardly a piece of litter could be seen. Snowflakes flew through a freezing wind as two dozen community members gathered around a fire pit, setting the agenda for another day at ground zero of the largest movement for racial justice in American history. The Chauvin trial was being livestreamed around the world, but not at George Floyd Square. They started out ...
