Community Debate: Future of George Floyd Square Remains Contested
Five years since George Floyd's tragic death, the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis stands as a poignant symbol of resistance and remembrance. A group of activists gather daily at the once-vacant gas station that serves as a testament to Floyd's life and the struggle for racial justice.
This corner has been transformed, with a sculpture of a towering fist marking the site and murals and graffiti adorning the buildings. Flowers and faded stuffed animals cover the ground where Floyd lost his life, while the names of other police violence victims are etched onto the pavement.
The group meets at the gas station each morning, a ritual that started in the early days of protests five years ago. Star Martin, a community member, explained, "We were just checking in. 'How is everybody? Who needs help?' And we just kept doing it."
Marcia Howard, a resident and local teachers union leader, sees the daily gatherings as a form of protest, stating, "We still stand here. And it is not a mistake that five years later since the lynching of George Floyd, that we are still here."
Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin's brutal act of kneeling on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes forever altered this intersection on May 25, 2020. Since then, the area has been a focal point for discussions on justice, racial reconciliation, and memorialization.
The intersection is now officially named George Floyd Square. However, the area has been mired in controversy due to disagreements about its future use, with some seeing it as a vital community hub and others viewing it as trapped in its darkest day.
Jeanelle Austin, who leads the racial justice group Rise and Remember, is one of the main figures working to conserve the George Floyd Square memorial. Inside a nearby humid greenhouse, she lovingly tends to lush mums, saying, "I think my favorite moment with the greenhouse - it must have been winter, the first year we had the greenhouse - and this little girl walks in and she takes a big sniff and she goes, it smells like spring."
The preservation efforts have included the collection of items left at the site as offerings, with Austin commenting, "This place and space mean something to folks. And we have to be able to acknowledge that something happened here and it changed the world. We can't go back to business as usual. There's no such thing."
The area has experienced challenges, particularly for businesses. Since the day Floyd was murdered, protests, destruction, and ensuing unrest have impacted the local economy. Thebarricading of the intersection and subsequent branding as an autonomous zone further hindered access for emergency responders and affected businesses.
Several shootings at the square have been fatal, adding to the volatility of the area. Business owners, such as Dwight Alexander, the proprietor of Smoke In The Pit, have described their struggles and subsequent legal action against the city.
The ongoing disputes have left the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue "stuck in a rut," according to local Marquise Bowie. He emphasized the need for progress, stating, "If we're only going somewhere to feel sad about a Black man getting killed, but we're not doing anything to try to fix some of the issues, I don't see that being a good thing, especially five years later."
Local residents and organizations are actively seeking ways to move forward, with efforts including creative writing classes, exhibits for protest art, and the opening of the PLOT gallery. These initiatives aim to heal as a nation and determine, "who are we going to be as a people?"
Mayor Jacob Frey acknowledges the frustrations of business owners but emphasizes the need for compromise, focusing on the site's importance for racial healing and justice. However, discussions about the design and function of the intersection have led to a standstill, leaving Lauing of the Fire Arts Center feeling disappointed five years later.
Despite the challenges and controversies, the community is finding its own ways forward, balancing memorialization with economic development. Brass Solidarity, a group of musicians, continues to gather every Monday night to play, sending a message of enduring change and providing joy to the community.
The sun sets over George Floyd Square as the brass band plays, reflecting off their instruments and casting a luminous glow over the site, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for justice, healing, and empowerment.
- Amid discussions about the future of George Floyd Square, local residents and organizations have launched initiatives such as creative writing classes, exhibits for protest art, and the opening of the PLOT gallery, aiming to heal as a nation and determine the community's identity, asking, "Who are we going to be as a people?"
- Although debates about the design and function of the intersection have led to a standstill, the community continues to find its own path forward, balancing memorialization with economic development, as evidenced by Brass Solidarity, a group of musicians who gather every Monday night at the square to play, sending a message of enduring change and providing joy to the community.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding George Floyd Square has impacted the local economy, primarily affecting businesses since the day Floyd was murdered, with issues such as protests, destruction, and ensuing unrest, barricading of the intersection, and subsequent branding as an autonomous zone, hindering access for emergency responders and negatively affecting businesses.
