George Floyd Square Reopens to Traffic in Minneapolis, June 2021

Vehicles navigate through George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, June 2021, three days after city officials removed barricades. The square, located at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and East 38th Street, had been occupied by protesters and activists for over a year following the murder of George Floyd nearby in May 2020. The reopening to traffic marked a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reclaim public space and address the community's demands for justice and accountability. 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.