Winston Smith Memorial, Minneapolis Parking Ramp

A memorial tribute to Winston Smith rests on the concrete surface of a Minneapolis parking ramp. Smith died on June 3rd, 2021, on this structure after being shot by officers from a federal task force who were serving a warrant. The memorial includes candles, dried flowers, and a decorative dog holding a bottle, arranged on the ground where the incident occurred. This location became a focal point for protests and mourning following Smith's death. On June 3, 2021, members of a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force fatally shot 32-year-old Winston “Boogie” Smith Jr. on the top level of a parking ramp in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood while attempting to arrest him on a felony warrant. Authorities said Smith fired a handgun from inside his vehicle during the encounter, while family members and activists questioned the official account and demanded the release of additional evidence. The killing led to weeks of protests, street occupations, and confrontations with police in Uptown, becoming another major flashpoint in Minneapolis during the period following the murder of George Floyd. Earlier in the day Minneapolis city officials along with The Agape Movement coordinated to open the streets that had been closed at George Floyd Square since his murder.

Photo taken in June 2021.