Hennepin County Juvenile Justice Center Boarded for Derek Chauvin Trial

The Hennepin County Juvenile Justice Center in downtown Minneapolis is shown boarded up in anticipation of the Derek Chauvin trial in April 2021. The building, located at 590 Park Avenue, serves as a courthouse for juvenile legal proceedings. The extensive boarding and security measures were implemented in response to concerns about potential unrest and protests stemming from the trial, which followed the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. 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 February 2021.