George Floyd Square barricade protest sign

A protestor holds a "No Justice No Streets" sign at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. The square, located at the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, became a focal point for protests following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. For over a year, activists maintained barricades around the area, transforming it into a community space and a symbol of resistance. This image was taken on June 3, 2021, the day the city began efforts to dismantle the barricades and reopen the streets. 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.