Latest developments: George Floyd Square

7:15 p.m.: Community members gathered for a "redecoration rally" at the square, which was rebarricaded with stuff including an old stove and some traffic signs. By early evening the crowd remained steady and the mood was relaxed, with the four main access roads to the 38th & Chicago intersection blocked off again by cars. Neighbors rode through on bikes or scooters. Some strolled through with kids and dogs, stopping to chat or take pictures. A man with a truck and bullhorn led a brief chant of 'No justice, no peace." and people took turns speaking.

2:15 p.m.: The Agape Movement organization tells the Star Tribune that it controlled what day it would help city workers open up the intersection; members wanted it to be after the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, after the anniversary of George Floyd's death. Longtime street outreach worker Steve Floyd, who helped form the Agape Movement, said 90 % of those living in the neighborhood wanted the intersection opened – but wanted it opened safely.

1:30 p.m.: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the city's actions the beginning of the "phased reconnection" of George Floyd Square. He and other city leaders praised the actions of the Agape Movement, a peacekeeping force whose staff includes ex-gang members from the neighborhood. The group has been on a contract with the city to keep watch over the area.

He said Agape was "making the decisions" Thursday morning but coordinated plans with the mayor's office and police.

"We recognize that a full reconnection is not going to happen all at once," Frey said, noting that they had removed the jersey barriers that had been there for a year. "I acknowledge that it will be a bit touch and go and difficult over the next several days."

1:15 p.m.: Though barricades have been removed, Marcia Howard, a lead protester, declares that "Nothing's changed. We're still here. We're still powerful. The work wasn't even done really in the middle of the street. The work was done on the sidewalks ... in people's houses. The work was done person to person, the work was done in hearts and the minds."

1 p.m.: Lead caretaker and founder of the George Floyd Global Memorial, Jeanelle Austin, says the city told her group it would let them know in advance about a reopening of the streets, but they were surprised by it.

"No one seems to take into consideration that even in the midst of our activism, just maybe, just maybe that we might be Black people grieving too," Austin said. "Reopening the streets does not help our community to heal ... Before asking me what's next, we have not had the time to process. We need that."

Before 8 a.m.: community members erected makeshift barricades to block traffic again.

4:30 a.m.: City workers began removing vehicle barriers and portions of the sprawling memorial at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, where George Floyd was killed by police more than a year ago. Community representatives were involved in coordinating the removal of flowers, artwork and variously sized barriers and shacks, said city spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie.