Hennepin County Government Center: Trial Security Fencing

Temporary security fencing is erected around the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis on February 28, 2021, in anticipation of the Derek Chauvin murder trial. The installation of this fencing, part of Operation Safety Net, was a measure to secure the courthouse and manage potential public gatherings during the high-profile trial, which began jury selection on March 8, 2021. The courthouse complex, a significant piece of Brutalist architecture in downtown Minneapolis, was the site of the trial for the death of George Floyd, an event that sparked widespread protests and unrest. 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.