George Floyd Square
George Floyd Square, the site where Floyd was murdered in 2020, has become a national site for activists seeking social justice. However, local businesses such as Unity Foods have argued that they were damaged economically due to rampant crime across Minneapolis. Business owners have now sued the city over property losses.
In this gallery, we take a closer look at the chaos that ensued following Floyd’s murder, and what local business are seeking from the city.
Business owners demanded
Business owners demanded the city take over their properties, citing severe business impacts due to neighborhood decline. The lawsuit is seeking $30 million, citing the city’s inaction on crime.
Unorganized police response
An outside review of Minneapolis’ response to the 2020 protests previously found chaos and poor communication among city leaders. The lack of coordination led to an unorganized police response.
Still deeply shaken
The report read, “After more than 18 months, community members are still deeply shaken, and emotions are still high about Floyd’s death and the events that followed.”
Are awaiting answers
The report added, “Many community members and government officials, including members of the MPD, are awaiting answers to understand what went wrong with aspects of the City’s response to the protests and unrest and how to prevent violent unrest from occurring again.”
Distrust between police and the community
The city’s emergency plan was not followed, and police and fire departments didn’t use it effectively. Distrust between police and the community worsened the situation.
Destroyed in the chaos
Bill Hupp, former owner of the Hexagon Bar, criticized Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for his delayed response during the 2020 riots following George Floyd’s death. Hupp’s bar was destroyed in the chaos.
A failure of leadership
Hupp blamed Walz for not deploying the National Guard promptly, which he believed could have saved his business from being torched. He described the situation as a failure of leadership.
The report criticized city officials
The report criticized city officials for their disjointed response, noting poor documentation and lack of guidance for officers using less-lethal rounds during protests.
Overall crisis management
Residents relied on informal sources for information amid the chaos. The police response to regular calls was severely hampered, complicating the city’s overall crisis management.
Faced threats
During the riots, Hupp and his son faced threats from rioters while trying to protect their business. The bar was eventually destroyed by arsonists, ultimately burning to the ground.