Since the police officer shot and killed George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020, a few things have improved in Minneapolis. A few haven’t.
The incident that led to the Black man’s death—in which white officer Derek Chauvin pinned his neck to the concrete for nine and a half minutes—took place five years ago on Sunday.
Rallies for racial equality broke out in American cities like a tsunami. Protesters yelled “I can’t breathe,” which were Floyd’s last words. Some of the demonstrations escalated from peaceful to violent, and portions of Minneapolis are still reeling from the aftermath of the looting, burning, and rioting. At the crossroads where Floyd was murdered, the city has yet to make a decision.
In an effort to lessen racial inequities, the Minneapolis Police Department has been subject to certain reforms as a result of judicial oversight. The violent crime rate, which surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and following Floyd’s passing, is mostly returning to its pre-pandemic levels, with the exception of a slight increase in homicides.
It is a sacred site
Soon after Floyd’s death, the junction where concerned citizens pleaded with Chauvin and other police to listen to his last cries was dubbed George Floyd Square.
One of the many memorials to Floyd is a gigantic sculpture of a closed fist. His body was found near the now-named Unity Foods convenience store, which was once known as Cup Foods. The region is popular with tourists from all around the globe.
Local activist Alfred “A.J.” Flowers Jr. was one of last week’s visitors. He stated that the five-year-old street unrest was only made worse by the police executions of young Black males before Floyd’s murder.
It’s noteworthy that Black people often unite in “places where we die, whether it’s by our own hands or by police violence,” according to Flowers.
The destiny of Floyd Square
Where Floyd took his last breath, most of the City Council is in favor of constructing a pedestrian-only mall; however, Mayor Jacob Frey and other property and business owners are against this plan. Decisions at this stage are still in their infancy.
Meanwhile, local companies are facing challenges and the crime rate is still rather high.
The local economy, according to Flowers, would benefit greatly from increased funding for housing, schools, and companies owned by Black people.
The 3rd Precinct police station’s shell, which was left to fire during the 2020 riots, has sparked heated discussion. Last month, the City Council approved plans to construct a “Democracy Center” there, which would serve as a community center and home to voting services.
According to the ex-chief of police, he had no regrets about leaving the building.
Police budget cuts lead to
The cry “Defund the Police” went viral following Floyd’s passing, but the movement ultimately failed. In spite of early support from most council members, a more limited effort to rethink police was what ended up on the 2021 municipal ballot. A majority of voters did not approve them.
As a result of the disturbance, hundreds of police officers left the force. As officers retired, received disability, or found other employment, the ranks dropped from roughly 900 in early 2020 to less than 600. Last year, staffing began to improve.
George Floyd Square, which was declared a “no-go zone” by police following Floyd’s death, is now again being used by officers to interact with the public. Relations between the police and the community have made “significant strides,” as Flowers admitted.
The chief of police, Brian O’Hara, stated that his officers are beginning to recover.
“It seems like they’re rediscovering the joy of their work, remembering why they chose this career path initially,” he told reporters last week.
Transforming police
Following allegations of systemic abuse by police forces in Louisville, Kentucky and Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Trump administration moved on Wednesday to renegotiate plans to reform those agencies.
It was “political theater” for the news to come a week before the anniversary of Floyd’s death, according to Mayor Frey.
Reformers on a national level also blasted the government’s decision. Regardless of the president’s stance, O’Hara and Frey assured Minneapolis that progress would be made. A consent decree between the Minnesota Human Rights Department and the police department is also in effect.
A number of goals, including ending racial profiling and bolstering public safety, are outlined in the decree. These goals include making sure police use only justifiable force, never retaliate or punish, and de-escalate situations wherever feasible.
Minneapolis received great grades in a study issued Tuesday by a charity that monitors other cities’ compliance with consent decrees, as highlighted by the mayor and chief.
Activists have warned that Minneapolis is lacking in noteworthy features.
“We understand that change takes time,” stated Michelle Gross, head of Communities United Against Police Brutality, last week. “But people on the streets aren’t experiencing the progress that the city claims to have made.”