George Floyd Square: Barricades Removed, Debris Remains

Debris litters the intersection of East 37th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, known as George Floyd Square. The city had recently removed concrete barricades that had been in place for over a year, reopening the street to vehicular traffic. The square became a focal point for protests and community organizing following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. A sign visible in the background reads "I SUPPORT MY NEIGHBORS IN TENTS. NO ENCAMPMENT. NO EVICTIONS." 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.