George Floyd Square Garden, Minneapolis, June 2021

George Floyd Square Garden, located on Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, was established in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in June 2020. This space, which became a focal point for protests and community organizing, transformed a section of the intersection into a garden and memorial. The garden serves as a living tribute to Floyd and a symbol of community resilience and ongoing activism in South Minneapolis. 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.