George Floyd Square: Traffic control measures at night

Traffic control measures are in place at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, approximately two weeks after city public works removed street barricades. This area has been under community control since the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. The temporary barriers and signage, including a "SLOW!" figure, indicate ongoing efforts to manage traffic flow and maintain the space's autonomous status. On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered 46-year-old George Floyd during an arrest outside Cup Foods at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis. Video recorded by bystanders showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Three other Minneapolis police officers - J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao — were also present during the arrest and later faced criminal charges for their roles in Floyd’s death. Floyd’s murder sparked protests and civil unrest across Minneapolis and around the world, leading to widespread demonstrations against police violence, major policy debates on policing, and the conviction of Chauvin on murder and manslaughter charges in 2021.

Photo taken in June 2021.