Minneapolis delays reopening 38th and Chicago, site of George Floyd's death

Intersection where George Floyd died won't open as planned week of Aug. 17.

August 15, 2020 at 2:31AM
Mister Smith, 7, and his little brother, Sir'Miles Smith, 4, watered the plants at the memorial in the 38th and Chicago intersection near where George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis Police custody in late May.
Mister Smith, 7, and his little brother, Sir’Miles Smith, 4, watered the plants at the memorial in the 38th Street and Chicago Avenue intersection near where George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis Police custody in late May. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minneapolis city officials are postponing plans to reopen the intersection where George Floyd died.

The intersection at 38th and Chicago Avenue won't open Monday as planned as community activists and city officials work to figure out what to do with the area where Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. The intersection has a memorial in the middle of it, featuring a large sculpture of a raised fist, with the area filled with art and writings honoring Floyd and other Black people killed by police.

"City staff had discussed the possibility of a potential phased reopening the week of Aug. 17, but discussions continue with community and no firm plans have been announced," Sarah McKenzie, a spokeswoman for the city, said in an e-mail.

City staff will provide an update on 38th and Chicago on Thursday during the Minneapolis City Council's Policy & Government Oversight Committee meeting.

Residents who have occupied what they call the "George Floyd Square Zone" have circulated a list of demands they want enacted before the barricades are removed. Those include recalling Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, requiring officers to have private liability insurance and allocating funding for residents and businesses in the area.

Some of the businesses in the area never closed or started reopening, including Cup Foods, the convenience store whose 911 call led to Floyd's death.

In September, the City Council is slated to consider giving Chicago Avenue between 37th and 39th streets the commemorative name of "George Perry Floyd Jr. Place."

Mister Smith, 7, and his little brother, Sir'Miles Smith, 4, watered the plants at the memorial in the 38th and Chicago intersection near where George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis Police custody in late May. ] aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com People visited George Floyd's memorial outside Cup Foods, where he was killed in Minneapolis police custody in late May, on Saturday, July 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Mister Smith, 7, and his little brother, Sir’Miles Smith, 4, watered plants at the memorial at 38th and Chicago. The intersection won’t reopen until it’s decided what to do with the area. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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Marissa Evans

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Marissa Evans writes about social issues for the Star Tribune.

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