Minneapolis Uprising: The Murder of George Floyd

Minneapolis Uprising – June 2022

Lake Street murals, memorials at George Floyd Square, and daily life across Minneapolis in summer 2022

June 1–30, 2022 Minneapolis

By June 2022, Minneapolis was two years into a period of visible, unresolved tension that had reshaped its streets, storefronts, and public spaces. The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020, had set off weeks of unrest concentrated along Lake Street and into surrounding neighborhoods, leaving a corridor of burned and boarded buildings whose recovery was still incomplete.

The physical markers of that unrest remained legible across South Minneapolis. The East Lake Street Target, damaged in May 2020, was still boarded and in the process of being repainted with murals commissioned from seven local artists — work meant to signal the store's planned reopening and the neighborhood's reclamation of the site. A Wells Fargo branch destroyed during the protests had not been rebuilt; a mobile ATM unit stood in its place. The strip malls, parking garages, and pedestrian bridges of the corridor carried graffiti memorializing people lost in the years since Floyd's death, among them Winston Smith, killed by a federal task force in June 2021, and Deona Marie Knajdek, struck and killed by a car while protesting Smith's death ten days later.

A new wave of protest arrived at the end of June when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion. Crowds gathered on the University of Minnesota campus and marched through downtown Minneapolis as part of a nationwide response to the ruling.

Running alongside these specific crises was a broader condition the city had not yet moved past: memorials to children killed by gun violence in North Minneapolis, graffiti naming the police department, and murals asserting community ownership of spaces that had been contested or destroyed. Two years after the initial unrest, Lake Street and its surrounding neighborhoods remained a landscape where recovery, grief, and ongoing political argument occupied the same blocks.

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Strip mall reopens in South Minneapolis — *June 1, 2022* — Illuminated signage for a strip mall in South Minneapolis is visible at night, featuring businesses such as Walgreens, Dollar Tree, Subway, Los Hornos Del Rey, and Cost Cutters. This location was damaged during the civil unrest in Minneapolis in 2020.

Welcome to Lake Street You Belong Here — *June 8, 2022* — A billboard at the intersection of Lake Street and Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis reads "Welcome to Lake Street. You belong here."

Sun goes down under I35W in Minneapolis — *June 8, 2022* — Sunset casts long shadows under the Interstate 35W bridge at the Lake Street Station in Minneapolis.

Artists drawing a mural at Target on East Lake in Minneapolis — *June 8, 2022* — Artists are completing a mural on the side of the East Lake Target in Minneapolis. The mural, located at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, is a significant piece of public art that emerged from the unrest. It features diverse portraits and symbols, including the fists representing George Floyd Square, serving as a visual testament to the community's resilience and ongoing dialogue about racial justice.

Order pickup at a Target Store in Minneapolis with paper over mural — *June 8, 2022* — The Target store on East Lake Street in Minneapolis is shown boarded up following damage sustained during civil unrest in late May 2020. The unrest followed the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020.

Franklin Avenue light rail station in South Minneapolis with a squad car — *June 8, 2022* — The Franklin Avenue Light Rail station in Minneapolis is a key stop on the Metro Transit Green Line. Opened in 2014 as part of the Central Corridor project, the station serves as a vital link connecting residents and visitors to various parts of the city.

Towers at cedar riverside plaza in Minneapolis — *June 8, 2022* — Cedar Riverside Plaza Towers, a prominent housing complex in Minneapolis, were completed in 1973. Designed by architect Ralph Rapson, the towers are known for their distinctive modernist architecture, featuring colorful window panels.

Movies in the park in front of US Bank Stadium — *June 8, 2022* — US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, hosts an outdoor screening of "The Princess Bride" as part of the city's "Movies in the Park" series. Opened in 2016, US Bank Stadium is home of the Minnesota Vikings.

People on the patio at Bryant Lake Bowl on Lake Street — *June 13, 2022* — The Lynlake neighborhood of Uptown Minneapolis is a vibrant commercial and residential district. The "Welcome to Lynlake" sign marks the area, which is known for its mix of businesses, including the Bryant Lake Bowl, a popular entertainment venue located on Lake Street.

Mobile wells fargo atm in South Minneapolis with construction — *June 13, 2022* — A Wells Fargo mobile ATM is stationed at the former site of a Wells Fargo bank branch in South Minneapolis. The surrounding area shows a mix of older brick buildings and a new multi-story structure under construction. This mobile unit provides banking services following the closure of the bank that was destroyed during the 2020 protests that followed the murder of George Floyd.

This is our city mural in south minneapolis — *June 15, 2022* — This mural, featuring anatomical figures and the phrase "This Is Our City," is located on the side of a chiropractor's building in Minneapolis.

MPD HQ graffiti in Minneapolis — *June 16, 2022* — Graffiti reading "MPD HQ" is spray-painted onto a portable toilet. MPD referring to the Minneapolis Police department.

Winston Smith Graffiti on Seven Points Mall — *June 17, 2022* — Yesterday would have been Deona Marie Knajdek's birthday. Overnight, graffiti appeared on the parking ramp that Winston Smith was killed on and where Knajdek was killed while protesting last summer. The intersection was the center of a month and a half of protest last June/July.

Parking garage with graffiti in Uptown Minneapolis 161 — *June 17, 2022* — Graffiti memorializing Deona Marie is visible on a parking garage along Lake Street in Minneapolis. The area had been a site of protests following the June 2021 killing of Winston Smith by a federal task force. Ten days after Smith's death, Deona Marie was killed when a vehicle drove through protest barricades on Lake Street.

Full patio at Graze in the Minneapolis North Loop — *June 17, 2022* — The rooftop patio of Graze Provisions + Libations in Minneapolis's North Loop neighborhood is a popular gathering spot. Located in a rapidly developing area of the city, the North Loop has transformed from a warehouse district into a vibrant urban environment with numerous restaurants, bars, and residential buildings. Graze, established in 2015, contributes to this transformation by offering a contemporary dining and social experience.

Memorial for children in Minneapolis who died from gunfire — *June 17, 2022* — This memorial, located in North Minneapolis, honors children lost to gun violence following the death of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in May 2021, who was killed by stray gunfire.

North High School mural in North Minneapolis — *June 17, 2022* — This mural, located on the exterior wall of North High School in North Minneapolis. The artwork, titled "Our Matters: Opportunity, Belonging, Peace, Change," features themes of student empowerment, social justice, and community resilience.

People on the Stone Arch Bridge over the Mississippi River in Downtown Minneapolis — *June 18, 2022* — The Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, completed in 1883, spans the Mississippi River. Originally constructed by railroad magnate James J. Hill to connect his Great Northern Railway with the East Coast, it was the longest of its kind in the world at the time of its completion. The bridge's construction utilized locally quarried limestone for its piers and a combination of steel and stone for its structure. Today, the bridge is a pedestrian walkway and a popular destination for visitors and locals, offering views of the river and the city's historic mill district.

Booths setup at the Stone Arch Festival in Downtown Minneapolis — *June 18, 2022* — Booths are set up for the Stone Arch Festival in downtown Minneapolis, an annual event that celebrates art and culture along the Mississippi River. The festival takes place in the historic St. Anthony Falls district, adjacent to the Stone Arch Bridge, a landmark originally built for railroad use in 1883. This area has transformed from an industrial hub to a vibrant public space, hosting numerous community events throughout the year. The festival showcases local artists, craftspeople, and food vendors, drawing large crowds to the riverfront.

St Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis on a summer day — *June 18, 2022* — People gather on the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis to observe the powerful flow of St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. Originally constructed in 1883 for the Great Northern Railway, the Stone Arch Bridge is the only arched bridge made of stone-faced concrete in the United States. It was later converted into a pedestrian and bicycle bridge, offering unique views of the river and the historic flour milling district. The falls themselves were once the site of extensive milling operations, powered by the river's force, and remain a significant natural and historical landmark within the city.

Pride flags hanging at a church in Loring Park Minneapolis — *June 18, 2022* — Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis's Loring Park neighborhood displays Pride flags and a rainbow-painted staircase. The cathedral, a prominent example of Gothic Revival architecture, was consecrated in 1911. It serves as a spiritual center for its congregation and a landmark within the city. The display of Pride symbols signifies the cathedral's support for the LGBTQ+ community, reflecting a broader trend of religious institutions embracing inclusivity.

Mural with the George Floyd Fist at Target on East Lake Street in Minneapolis — *June 23, 2022* — This mural adorns the exterior of the Target store on Lake Street in Minneapolis, located across from the third precinct. Commissioned as part of the store's reopening plan after the 2020 Minneapolis Uprising, the artwork was co-created by seven local artists.

Completed mural at the Target Store in South Minneapolis — *June 23, 2022* — This mural adorns the exterior of the Target store located across from the former third precinct in Minneapolis. Following the 2020 unrest, Target committed to commissioning local artists to create permanent murals reflecting the Lake Street community's themes of rootedness, change, resilience, healing, growth, renewal, and togetherness. Seven artists contributed to this artwork, which serves as a visual representation of the neighborhood's spirit and its aspirations for recovery and unity.

Brits Pub in Downtown Minneapolis on a mid summer evening — *June 23, 2022* — Brit's Pub, a British-themed establishment, is located on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The pub, established in 1990, features Union Jack flags and signage for Summit Brewing and Harp Lager.

Roe V Wade protest and march in Downtown Minneapolis — *June 24, 2022* — Protesters gathered in South Dakota on June 24, 2022, following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The ruling eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, returning the authority to regulate or ban the procedure to individual states.

Protesters marching in Minneapolis after Roe V Wade — *June 24, 2022* — A large crowd of protesters gathered on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis on June 24, 2020. The march occurred in response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had established the constitutional right to abortion.

Protesters with signs marching in Minneapolis after Roe V Wade is overturned — *June 24, 2022* — Protesters gathered in Minneapolis on June 24, 2020, to express their opposition to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The ruling eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, which had been in place for nearly 50 years. This protest, part of a larger national response, highlighted concerns about reproductive justice and women's rights.

Protesters with signs after roe v wade is overturned by supreme court — *June 24, 2022* — Protesters gathered in Minneapolis on June 24, 2020, to march for reproductive rights following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The mural in the background, featuring "LOVEPOWER CHURCH" and a depiction of Jesus, provided a backdrop to the demonstration. This event was part of a nationwide response to the ruling, which eliminated the constitutional right to abortion and returned the authority to regulate or ban the procedure to individual states.

Looking down at protesters marching in Minneapolis after Roe V Wade is overturned — *June 24, 2022* — Protesters march through Minneapolis on June 24, 2020, following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This event occurred amidst widespread national protests against the ruling, which eliminated the constitutional right to abortion.

Boulders outside Supervalu store in South Minneapolis — *June 26, 2022* — Large concrete debris has been placed in front of a vacant Supervalu store on Lake Street in South Minneapolis. This measure was implemented to deter individuals experiencing homelessness from sheltering at the site.

Buses are currently not in service at Alice Rainville Place — *June 26, 2022* — A digital display at the Alice Rainville Place bus stop in Minneapolis indicates that "Buses are currently not in service." The stop, located in downtown Minneapolis, serves Metro Transit routes.

Nice Ride bike rentals rack in Minneapolis — *June 26, 2022* — Nice Ride bike share stations are visible in front of a graffiti-covered wall in South Minneapolis. The mural features vibrant spray paint, including the words "TOBACCO SHOP" painted in large block letters above a more abstract, colorful graffiti tag.

Graffiti, Art, Martin Olav Sabo Bridge, Minneapolis — *June 26, 2022* — Graffiti on the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge in Minneapolis reads, "Theres more to life than being really, really ridiculously good at graffiti. Not really..."

All Black Lives Matter mural — *June 27, 2022* — A mural located on the exterior of a building at 40th Street in South Minneapolis. The artwork features multiple signs with messages such as "All Black Lives Matter," "No Justice No Peace," "This is Indigenous Land," and "Protect Trans Lives."

Deshaun Hill shirt hangs at George Floyd Square — *June 29, 2022* — A blue jersey with the name "D. HILL" and the number "9" hangs at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. This memorial honors Deshaun Hill, a 15-year-old who was fatally shot on February 9, 2021, while walking home from school.

Minneapolis Uprising – June 2022

Minneapolis Photographer