Several local leaders called on protesters to abide by the city’s 8 p.m. curfew to quell tensions and separate the “good people from the bad people” following another long night of fires, rioting and destruction that lasted until early Saturday morning.
The local state, community and religious leaders said there are agitators out there who are intentionally destroying the community to detract the focus away from the righteous protests that came in the wake of George Floyd’s May 25 death. They said those who were arrested last night were not Minnesota residents and do not have the same goals in mind.
“It makes no sense for us not to protect our community; our assets,” Lul Osman, a local activist with the Brave Foundation, said, pleading with protesters to head home by 8 p.m. tonight. “We cannot watch our brothers be murdered, and then watch our communities be demolished, and then have people trying to blame us.”
Lul Osman of Brave Foundation — urgently pleads for young people to stay home after 8. “We cannot let these people come in and destroy our communities” pic.twitter.com/M2mXy7pqRW
— John Croman (@JohnCroman)
May 30, 2020 “People should be able to come together and grieve and mourn the racist system,” Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said. “But at this moment, we cannot. Because there are detractors.”
State Attorney General Keith Ellison said the aims of the protesters are “righteous and good,” but added some “evil elements are literally infusing themselves” into the situation.
“We know you’re brave; we know you’re strong,” Ellison told the protesters. “But we need to be able to stop the burning and riots and destruction.”
Stopping the burning and destruction will require protesters to allow the national guard to take the streets tonight, Ellison said. President Trump also told military police units to prepare for deployment to Minneapolis if the situation escalates tonight.
Breaking News: At the behest of President Trump, the Army has been told to ready military police units for possible deployment to Minneapolis after protests escalated for a fourth night, officials said.https://t.co/d9KyuTd96H
— The New York Times (@nytimes)
May 30, 2020 Gov. Tim Walz addressed the community, anger edging his voice, as he spoke of the buildings that were vandalized and destroyed last night, which he said has further increased inequities instead of shedding a spotlight on them.
“We’ve destroyed landmarks of some of the nation’s largest indigenous communities. We’ve destroyed black-owned businesses,” Walz said of the arsonists and looters. “They are not us. They do not share our values.”
The leaders also took time to praise those in the community who have stepped up to clean up the wreckage and donate food after evenings full of destruction. “This is our Minnesota,” Walz said. “And there is work to do. Go home tonight. Stay off the streets.”
In times of distress, we’re coming together. This is the Minnesota I know. This is the Minnesota we love. https://t.co/EtY8NTtGrj
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz)
May 30, 2020 An ARMY of volunteers in Minneapolis helping neighbors clean up business damage. “Bring a broom” they were told. What a sight. pic.twitter.com/OjzXpEXCLk
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC)
May 30, 2020 “Keep fighting for justice, keep raising your voices, and then tonight at 8:00, get out,” Robert Liligren with the Native American Community Development Institute said.
