Minneapolis Uprising — 2023

2023 in Minneapolis was defined by the final state proceedings tied to the events of 2020 and continued protest presence around questions of accountability and reform. While protest gatherings were generally smaller than in earlier years, organizers maintained visibility during trial dates, verdicts, and sentencing hearings connected to former Minneapolis police officers.

The state trial of former officer Tou Thao in the spring drew renewed attention to the events of May 25, 2020. Protesters gathered outside court proceedings and at George Floyd Square, emphasizing that accountability extended beyond individual convictions to broader institutional responsibility. The guilty verdict in May marked the final state-level conviction of an officer involved in Floyd’s death.

Throughout the year, George Floyd Square remained a memorial and organizing site as negotiations continued over its long-term configuration and reopening to full traffic. Protest activity in 2023 reflected a sustained phase of the movement—less defined by emergency response and more by monitoring legal outcomes, maintaining memorial space, and pressing for structural change in policing policy.