Minneapolis Uprising – May 2023

May 2023 in Minneapolis, MN saw a series of events and locations connected to the third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, a pivotal event in the city’s recent history. George Floyd Square, at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, remained a significant site of remembrance and activism, featuring memorials, public art, and the third annual Rise and Remember festival organized by the George Floyd Global Memorial. The area’s built environment—including the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building and the recently rebuilt Target Store—continued to reflect both the destruction and ongoing recovery efforts following the protests of 2020.

This photo set documents public commemorations, cultural events, and shifts in urban infrastructure, highlighting how the city has responded to ongoing social justice concerns and memorialization in the years since 2020. The impact of the protests is evident in both symbolic gestures, such as murals and festivals at George Floyd Square, and in physical changes to buildings and transport infrastructure. In addition, the community faced environmental challenges, including hazardous air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke drifting into the region, which affected daily life and city routines.

These images offer a cross-section of Minneapolis, MN during May 2023, focusing on locations such as Uptown, Lake Street, and downtown. They shed light on how residents, organizations, and institutions have reclaimed, rebuilt, and redefined public and commercial spaces while also grappling with broader issues of public health and urban development.