Crews from the city of Minneapolis and the community group Agape descended upon the intersection of 38th and Chicago just after 4 this morning to begin removing barricades that have been in place since the killing of George Floyd last May, perhaps in an effort to reopen the intersection.
Neighbors were caught off guard as heavy machinery was moved in to remove the concrete barriers that prevented vehicles from entering a 2 block radius. As word spread, people began to arrive to voice their displeasure with the actions, one man using a bullhorn while standing in the middle of the intersection at the base of the sculpture of a raised fist that became the symbol of the movement and the most visible piece of what is now known as George Floyd Square. But as time went on, the tension subsided.
The reopening of the intersection is not a total surprise, as city officials have been working with local residents and other groups to figure out a way both memorialize the intersection but also allow traffic to flow freely, and to allow police and fire crews to be able to patrol and respond to the area when necessary.
The group who is doing the construction says that they do not plan to remove any of the memorials, including the large fist statue. Crews are putting up signage in effort to make that intersection a roundabout around the fist.
In a join statement released by Minneapolis Mayor Frey, City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and City Council Member Alondra Cano, they said that they are looking forward to healing at 38th and Chicago.
“The City’s three guiding principles for the reconnection of 38th and Chicago have been community safety, racial healing and economic stability and development for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and other communities of color.
The Agape Movement brought together community leadership to begin facilitating the phased reconnection this morning, with the City playing a supportive role. We are grateful for the partnership.
We are collectively committed to establishing a permanent memorial at the intersection, preserving the artwork, and making the area an enduring space for racial healing.
Alongside City leadership, we have met on a regular basis with community members to discuss both the short-term path toward reconnecting this area and the long-term plan for the neighborhood with sustained investments to help restore and heal the community.