Abolish Police

20 photos · 2020–2023

20 photographs tagged Abolish Police, 2020–2023.

Protest sign reading "Honor the Dead, Fight for the Living, Abolish Policing" with flame graphics placed in snow. — Protesters marching in Minneapolis near Hennepin/Lake remembering Manuel Teran(Tortuguita), who was shot and killed by officers at a prolonged protest in an Atlanta forest after they say he fired upon them. They stopped at Lake/Girard where protester Deona Marie was killed on 06/13/21.

BLM mural and "Abolish MPD" graffiti on 38th Street in Minneapolis. — Murals related to the Black Lives Matter movement and the call to "Abolish MPD" (Minneapolis Police Department) are displayed on a wooden structure on 38th Street in Minneapolis.

Students protest in St. Paul with signs reading Black Lives Matter and Justice for Amir Locke. — Students in St. Paul protested the abolition of the police and demanded justice for Amir Locke, who was killed by Minneapolis police in February 2022. The protest, which began at noon, saw participants calling for the resignation of interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman and Mayor Jacob Frey. Signs held by the students articulated their vision for "abolishing the police." Amir Locke was killed earlier in the month by Minneapolis Police officers during a no knock warrant at a Downtown Minneapolis apartment building.

Minneapolis Police Squad Car and Abolish The Police — A Minneapolis Police Department squad car passes a mural on Minnehaha Avenue that reads "Abolish The Police." The mural, painted on plywood covering a building, appeared in the context of widespread protests and calls for police reform following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. The "Open Streets" event, which temporarily closes streets to vehicles for community use, was concluding as the police vehicle drove by.

No Cops Abolish The Police stickers in Minneapolis — An "Abolish The Police" sticker is affixed to a "No Turn on Red" traffic sign in Minneapolis. This act of protest occurred in the context of widespread demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, which led to calls for police reform and abolition. The sticker, placed on public infrastructure, serves as a visual statement against police brutality and the existing system of law enforcement. The "No Turn on Red" sign itself is a common piece of urban signage designed to regulate traffic flow and enhance pedestrian safety.

No Cops No Judges No Prison Total Abolition banner — During the Open Streets Lyndale event in 2021, a home on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis displayed a banner advocating for total abolition. The banner, reading "No Cops, No Judges, No Prison Total Abolition," reflects sentiments that gained prominence following the Minneapolis Uprising of 2020. This movement called for significant reforms and reimagining of policing and the justice system. Open Streets Lyndale is an annual event that closes major streets to cars, allowing people to walk, bike, and engage in community activities.

George Floyd Square shacks at impound lot — Warming shelters, constructed by activists, were removed from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis on June 3rd. The shelters, which bore slogans such as "Abolish Kill The Police" and "Global Abolition," were located at the Minneapolis Impound Lot. The removal occurred amidst ongoing protests and discussions surrounding police reform and abolition in the city, following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.

Abolish The Police We Keep Us Safe protest flyer — Posters advocating for the abolition of the police are displayed on a street pole in Uptown Minneapolis. The text reads "Abolish the Police" and "We Keep Us Safe." These posters appeared in the context of protests and unrest following the killing of Winston Smith by federal law enforcement officers in June. The location is near the parking ramp where the incident occurred, highlighting the community's response to police violence and their calls for alternative safety measures.

Black Liberation at George Floyd Memorial — Banners displaying messages such as "Black liberation," "More justice, more peace," and "Respect Life" hang at George Floyd Square in 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. George Floyd Square is at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis. The 4 block area became a place of protest following the May 25th killing of George Floyd. The area has been transformed into a community memorial space filled with murals, protest art, flowers, barricades, and tributes honoring victims of police violence. The area remained occupied by protesters and closed to vehicular traffic for a year before barricades were removed on June 3, 2021. Following the removal of the barricades, cars began to flow through the area while daily community meetings continue to be held. The city purchased The People’s Way, the former Speedway gas station at 38th/Chicago in June 2023 with plans for a permanent memorial.

Moon Palace Books Abolish The Police — A mural reading "Abolish The Police" is displayed on the exterior of Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis. The building is located a few doors down from the former Minneapolis Police Third Precinct, which was a focal point during the 2020 George Floyd protests. The mural, along with accompanying graffiti art that includes the words "Justice" and "Love," reflects the sentiments expressed during the widespread demonstrations calling for police reform and accountability.

Abolish the Police stickers on a yellow street pole at night in Minneapolis. — Stickers advocating for the abolition of the police are affixed to a street pole in Uptown Minneapolis. This message gained prominence during the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd, which occurred in Minneapolis.

Abolish the Police sign on courthouse fencing in Minneapolis — A sign reading "Abolish The Police" is affixed to security fencing surrounding the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis. This fencing was erected during the trial of Derek Chauvin, who was charged with the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. The trial and its aftermath sparked widespread protests and discussions about policing in the United States. The courthouse, a significant piece of mid-century modern architecture, serves as a central hub for legal proceedings in Hennepin County.

Abolish Police Ice Poverty protest sign — Protesters gathered outside a Holiday Gas station in South Minneapolis on January 1, 2021, to protest the killing of Dolal Idd. Idd was shot and killed by Minneapolis Police on December 30, 2020, during a traffic stop. This protest occurred approximately one mile from where George Floyd was killed by police on May 25, 2020, and was part of a broader movement calling for police abolition and justice for victims of police brutality. The sign reads "Abolish Police, Ice, Poverty, Capitalism, Patriarchy, White Supremacy, War, Fossil Fuel Use and Anything Else That Is Keeping This Fuckery Afloat."

Demolition of a building in the snow — An excavator operates amidst snow-covered rubble at the demolition site of former businesses on Lake Street in Minneapolis. These structures, which included Minnehaha Liquors, a chiropractor’s office, and GM Tobacco, were destroyed during the widespread protests and civil unrest that followed the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd.

Dumping trump is a not a crime — Flyers are affixed to a pole outside the Minneapolis Third Precinct police station on Lake Street. This station was significantly damaged by fire during the Minneapolis Uprising in May 2020, following the murder of George Floyd. The prominent flyer demands "DROP THE CHARGES!" and states "DUMPING TRUMP IS NOT A CRIME." This call to "Drop the Charges" refers to the 646 individuals criminally charged during the largest mass arrest in Minnesota history, which occurred after a post-election march onto I-94. Other messages on the pole, including "ABOLISH THE MPD!", reflect ongoing demands for police reform and accountability in Minneapolis.

"Abolish The Police" mural on boarded windows of Hook and Ladder Theater on Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis with pedestrians — The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge sits on Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis's Longfellow neighborhood, a live-music venue that had its plywood window coverings turned into protest art after the killing of George Floyd in 2020. The "Abolish the Police" mural, along with the "Justice" and "Love" lettering beside it, remained on the boards well after the unrest that summer, turning the building into an ongoing outdoor gallery. People gathered outside the venue in November 2020, in the days following the announcement of the presidential election results, as debates over policing and public safety continued in the city.

Protest sign reading "Abolish the Police" with lit candles at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. — An "Abolish The Police" sign at George Floyd Square months after Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis Police.

Abolish the police and autozone them again graffiti — Graffiti covers a wall of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner building in downtown Minneapolis. The spray-painted messages include "Abolish the police" and "AutoZone them again," referencing the burning of the AutoZone building during the 2020 Minneapolis Uprising. The AutoZone fire was one of the first major acts of property destruction during the widespread protests and civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd. As the official body responsible for investigating deaths in Hennepin County, including those involving law enforcement, the Medical Examiner's office became a site for expressions of public dissent and calls for systemic change.

Abolish the police and George Floyd murals on Minnehaha — Murals and protest art adorn boarded-up buildings along Minnehaha Avenue in South Minneapolis. These public art installations emerged in the aftermath of the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd and the subsequent widespread protests. The artwork includes tributes to George Floyd, calls for justice, and messages such as "Abolish The Police," reflecting the community's demands for systemic change. Serving as a temporary public canvas, these expressions visually documented the grief and activism that characterized the Minneapolis Uprising.

Cops Murder Abolish Police — Graffiti reading “RIP GEORGE FLOYD!!!” and a banner stating “COPS MURDER! ABOLISH POLICE!” are displayed along Lake Street in South Minneapolis on May 26, 2020. The messages appeared the day after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police, as protest signs, memorials, and other written statements spread across the area.

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