George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Local protests over the murder of George Floyd, sometimes called the Minneapolis riots[17][18] or Minneapolis uprising,[19][20][21] began on May 26, 2020, and within a few days had inspired a global protest movement against police brutality and racial inequality. The initial events were a reaction to a video filmed the day before and circulated widely in the media of police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds[22] while Floyd struggled to breathe, begged for help, lost consciousness, and died.[23][24][25] Public outrage over the content of the video gave way to widespread civil disorder in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and other cities in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area over the five-day period of May 26 to 30 after Floyd's murder.[26][27][28][29]
Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see List of incidents of civil unrest in Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
George Floyd protests
in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
- Initial events:
May 26 – June 7, 2020 (13 days)
- Subsequent events:
June 8, 2020 – May 2, 2023 (2 years, 10 months and 4 weeks)
- Reaction to the murder of George Floyd[1][2]
- Economic, racial and social inequality[2]
- Murder charges for all officers involved
- End to police brutality
- Defund the police
- Resignation of Bob Kroll[3]
- Recall Michael O. Freeman[3]
- Initial government mobilization to the unrest ended on June 7, 2020.
- Prolonged racial unrest in 2020–2023.
604 from May 27—June 2, 2020[6]
Minneapolis sustained extensive damage from rioting and looting during the protests—largely concentrated on a 5-mile (8.0 km) stretch of Lake Street south of downtown[26]—including the destruction of the city's 3rd police precinct building, which was overrun by demonstrators and set on fire.[30] At cost of $350 million,[31] approximately 1,300 properties in Minneapolis were damaged by the civil unrest,[32] of which nearly 100 were entirely destroyed.[33] Saint Paul suffered damages that totaled $82 million and affected 330 buildings, including 37 properties that were heavily damaged or destroyed, with most destruction along the University Avenue business corridor.[34] The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tracked 164 structure fires due to arson in the Twin Cities region during the riots.[9][10]
Governor Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard in response to civil unrest. The 7,123 troops activated represented the largest deployment of the state's forces since World War II.[35] By early June 2020, violence in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area had resulted in at least two deaths,[36] 604 arrests, and more than $500 million[7] in damage to approximately 1,500 properties, the second-most destructive period of local unrest in U.S. history, after the 1992 Los Angeles riots.[37][8][38][39] Violent protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul over Floyd's murder largely subsided after May 30, 2020.[30][40] The Minnesota National Guard and a multi-jurisdiction government command that responded to the riots demobilized on June 7, 2020.[41][35]
Local protests and unrest over Floyd's murder continued in 2020–2023 and broadened to other issues of racial injustice.[42][43][44] On May 2, 2023, the conclusion of the last criminal case for the four Minneapolis police officers responsible for murdering Floyd fulfilled a key demand of protesters that Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao all be held legally accountable.[45][46]
East Lake Street in Minneapolis
University Avenue West, in Saint Paul
Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis
