The City of Minneapolis has shared its “vision” for the future of George Floyd Square, claiming that the area has “flourished” over the last four years.
The George Floyd Square redevelopment initiative is described as a “community-centered vision” for the area that includes “streets, memorials, and the People’s Way site.”
The city’s new report released late last month states that George Floyd Square has “flourished with artistic offerings and community gatherings,” becoming a site of “community participation and wellness.”
George Floyd Square (GFS), located at 38th and Chicago in Minneapolis, is the location where George Floyd died in May 2020. Since his death over four years ago, that intersection has been occupied by protesters as an “autonomous zone.”
Although the city says the square has “flourished,” local businesses sued the city this week, saying they suffered “devastating economic effects” and saw a “staggering increase in violence,” according to Fox 9.
“No justice, no streets” is the mantra that’s been used by activists who occupy the zone, including one Minneapolis school teacher, Marcia Howard.
Howard criticized the city’s vision while attending one of the project’s “unveiling” events last month, saying, “It’s a dog and pony show to get you all kerfuffled.”
sometimes you gotta pop out and show vigor #nojusticenostreets #georgefloydsquare #floydtowntoyourtown pic.twitter.com/qUjuz7CUE0
— marciahoward38thstreet (@marciaxthree) October 29, 2024
Howard often posts videos that open or close with, “Greetings from George Floyd Square where we’re still here ’cause we still stand. No justice? No streets! And we mean that shit. Meet the demands.”
The activists don’t like the presence of police who were unable to respond to calls and reach victims inside GFS in 2021. Last month, one person was assaulted in the area, but police were reportedly met with a crowd “who don’t want us out here.”
South Minneapolis George Floyd Square – After 8 a.m., one down from assault with a brick.
38th and Chicago Ave S
Suspect: Native or BF, tat on facePolice said a crowd was growing "who don't want us out here."
Still an embarrassing No Go Zone in Tim Walz's Minnesota.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) October 29, 2024
The streets into the area were at one point blocked off with makeshift guard shacks placed at entrances.
‘Sacred space’
The document from the city of Minneapolis states that the goal is to acknowledge GFS as a “sacred space” and to preserve “the area where George Floyd was murdered for a future Floyd Family memorial and ensure no vehicles will pass over the location where he took his last breath.”
The report outlines three objectives that the city is hoping to accomplish: reconstructing the streets around GFS, developing the “People’s Way,” and constructing memorials at the site.
The “People’s Way” refers to a former Speedway gas station located at 3744 Chicago Avenue that the City of Minneapolis purchased in June 2023 as part of the George Floyd Square redevelopment initiative. The city is now looking for a “community-centered owner” to purchase and develop the People’s Way site.
“The intersection of 38th and Chicago was forever transformed in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd,” the document states. “It should be designed to honor this transformation and to enable wellness for those who live nearby and visit.”
The city of Minneapolis discussed the changes and plans for road reconstruction through the square at a city council meeting on Nov. 12. During the meeting, city officials outlined several locations that will be preserved for memorials. The locations include a fist sculpture in the street at the intersection of 38th and Chicago Ave., the space in the road where Floyd died, a “Mourning Passage” down Chicago Ave., the People’s Way property, and a “Say Their Names” graveyard memorial.
Several protesters were at the meeting, with one interrupting the meeting by shouting that what the community wants is police reform. Another held a sign that said, “No justice, no streets.”
The meeting concluded with Council Member Robin Wonsley expressing her disgust that the city was “inserting itself” into a conservation about art that may need to be moved or removed in order for road reconstruction to take place. Wonsley said that the city being involved in “touching” the artwork makes her uncomfortable.
“I just want, again, to highlight just how uncomfortable and offensive, again, around the city inserting itself of holding, touching, messing with anything around art produced by the people during a protest,” Wonsley said.
Council member Jason Chavez, who represents the area of George Floyd Square, said that he wants to continue to delay the road reconstruction process.
"The Minneapolis Police Department murdered George Floyd, and they continue to take the lives of our community members in the city of Minneapolis," Minneapolis city council member Jason Chavez said during a discussion about road reconstruction through 38th and Chicago where… pic.twitter.com/uaO0aYdWIR
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) November 15, 2024
“When I ran for city council, one of the few reasons for that was because I didn’t support the city’s process on how they just opened George Floyd Square. It was wrong. It was inhumane and it did not take into consideration the feeling and pain of people that they experienced in the summer of 2020,” Chavez said.
The discussion will continue during a Dec. 3 meeting.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
