A day of peace and community, music and food, catharsis and reflection with people and families of all ages and races as well honoring George Floyd’s life on the one year anniversary of his murder in south Minneapolis that ignited an international dialogue on racial inequality and police reform when thousands mourned, marched, raised their fists, and learned.
Arianna Jackson said she needed to feel connection on this anniversary.
“It’s been a rough year but we are ending it knowing justice has been served. We’re celebrating a life. We’re coming downtown to dance, to celebrate, to laugh, to hug, to paint, everything you can think of we’re out here to do it, just to celebrate life,” she said.
At both George Floyd Square at the intersection of 38th and Chicago and a “Celebration of George Floyd’s Life and Legacy” at The Commons in downtown Minneapolis Tuesday, performances of poetry and spoken word, dance, art and impassioned speeches sent the message of continuing the activism awoken last summer.
“Everyone should try to keep the momentum going at this time because some of these injustices are a real thing. There are so many hashtags this year. Hopefully we can turn things around and be more about community,” attendee Kevin Whitfield said.
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The mood was joyful, a recognition of the perseverance of the community after the collective trauma of Floyd’s widely broadcast death and subsequent trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin last month. But the somber reminder of the occasion was never far. At The Commons, the group Visual Black Justice had an installation where people were invited to write the name of someone killed by police on a ribbon to tie onto a rope jungle gym for a striking image.
“Can we humanize these people who, we’re saying their names, we’re saying their names, we’re saying their names, and it almost becomes ingrained in our minds and we become desensitized to it,” Visual Black Justice president Tay Elhindi said. “How can we humanize the lives that have been stolen and bring it back to the fact that this was a human who had loved ones and friends and family and coworkers and hobbies and interests?”
Some attendees felt that Minneapolis and the state continue to lead conversations about race equity and police reform and felt optimistic about steps forward. Others have been more critical about efforts that have fallen short at the capitol in St. Paul and at Minneapolis city hall. But Tuesday was about Floyd’s legacy and community.
“We progress by all of us doing our part to make things better and to fight the good fight and love on each other because we’re human,” Jackson said. “I just want everyone to walk in love. It’s needed right now more than anything. Hug on another person even if you don’t agree, even if they don’t look like you, just hug on somebody. It’s needed in this time, so keep doing it.”
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