The George Floyd Murals of Minneapolis: A Demand for Justice, Hope and a  Better Humanity – Thirdeyemom

 

Helicopters overhead. They're reopening George Floyd Square.

A year ago, George Floyd died beneath the knee of then-policeman Derek Chauvin on the corner of Chicago Avenue and 38th Street here in Minneapolis. Since then the intersection has been closed, blocked off with concrete barriers.

It's given us a place to remember, and to grieve.

But it's also, frankly, been a knee on the neck of an entire neighborhood.

In addition to the sheer inconvenience of blocking a major traffic artery, the Square has become the site of numerous shootings and stabbings. (Would George Floyd have wanted that?) Activists—many of whom do not live in the neighborhood—have called the closure of the intersection an “act of disruptive activism.”

But what is being disrupted here? Systemic racism? Out-of-control law enforcement? The “Man”?

No. The life of an ethnically-mixed, working class neighborhood has been the victim.

A year ago, an act of terrible injustice happened here. Disrupting the life of an already-traumatized neighborhood has only compounded that injustice.

Now they're reopening the Square. Sounds like the city is being smart about it. No police: just city workers. “This is a city, not a police operation,” said a spokesman for the MPD.

Finally, thank Goddess, they're reopening George Floyd Square.

Let there be a memorial.

Let us never forget.

Now let us go forward together.