Chalk Message on Minneapolis Police 5th Precinct Barriers

Concrete barriers surround the Minneapolis Police Department's Fifth Precinct station, a measure taken to fortify the building following the murder trial of Derek Chauvin. Chalked messages on the barriers, including "Thanks MPD, Love you MPD," reflect a complex public sentiment towards law enforcement in the aftermath of widespread protests. 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.