The spot where George Floyd passed away along with the surrounding neighborhoods in Minneapolis has turned from a memorial into an occupied zone where police and media are not tolerated.
The Star-Telegram newspaper outlines the chaos:
“Prayer gatherings canceled. Rallies canceled. Visitors arriving with flowers in hand, only to retreat to their cars when greeted by the sound of gunshots. Neighbors ducking for cover behind our houses, children in tow.
The spiritual health of our community, the feeling of being connected to something larger than ourselves, is collapsing.”
Shooting are happening on almost a daily basis."
Last week, a reporter doing a stand up just outside of the zone was threatened on-camera with injury.
Monica Nilsson who lives in the zone writes:
“We also will continue to call 911 as the devolution continues. We are unsure when help is coming.”
Just over a week ago, a man was murdered in the zone and that man’s aunt says “police were not allowed to get into that area; he was carried out outside of the zone of George Floyd Square. It was made clear law enforcement was not welcome to penetrate that zone, which is an atrocity because his life was taken, and I mean who knows whether or not he would have survived had things been different.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo says “the current situation at 38th and Chicago is unacceptable and will not and must not be tolerated."
He announced that the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, U.S. Attorney's Office District of Minnesota, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), St. Paul Field Division have now pledged resources and support to take back the lawless area.