GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE

On May 25, 2020, at the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, George Floyd died after being held down for nearly 10 minutes, one knee on his neck, by police officer Derek Chauvin. This tragedy, filmed and widely broadcast, triggered a wave of unprecedented indignation and anger. The tragedy not only rekindled debates about police violence and systemic racism in the country, but also gave new impetus to the Black Lives Matter movement, mobilizing millions of people in the streets far beyond the United States.

In just a few days, the crossroads, now known as George Floyd Square, became a place of remembrance. Messages of peace, flowers, candles and works of art accumulated there, testifying to the contemplation of the entire city. The memorial stretches from 37th to 39th Street, around the Cup Foods where the events took place, and remains accessible 24 hours a day (we recommend daytime visits). Throughout the city, frescoes and graffiti recall the event, notably on Nicollet Avenue or Lake Street, where some businesses still bear the marks of the riots of summer 2020.

The Black Lives Matter movement , born in 2013, and the slogan I can't breathe, already used after the death of Eric Garner in New York in 2014, have found a particular resonance here. In 2021, the city paid $27 million to George Floyd's family. Derek Chauvin was sentenced in 2022 to 21 years in prison for homicide, while his three colleagues received lighter sentences.