George Floyd Square: Remembering Malcolm X in Winter

A young person places flowers on a memorial at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis on February 21, 2021. The square, established in the wake of George Floyd's murder in May 2020, has become a site of protest and remembrance. The gathering also honored Malcolm X, a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, and explorer Matthew Henson, who was part of the first expedition to reach the North Pole. The event, which included the GFS Liberation Loppet, served as a moment to reflect on Black liberation movements and historical figures. 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.