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Marshals shooting dead a Black man in Minneapolis sparks night of protests; Rapper ‘Wince Me Boi’ was wanted for violating probation, following a social media post showing a gun – Cops

&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpcnt">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpa">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<span class&equals;"wpa-about">Advertisements<&sol;span>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"u top&lowbar;amp">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<amp-ad width&equals;"300" height&equals;"265"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; type&equals;"pubmine"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-siteid&equals;"109460728"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-section&equals;"1">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;amp-ad>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>US Marshals task force moved in on Winston Boogie Smith&comma; outside a parking garage at around 2pm on Thursday&comma; 3 miles away from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis which had been dismantled in a controversial move by the city earlier in the day <&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>Hip hop artist <&sol;strong>S<strong>mith&comma; aka &&num;8216&semi;Wince Me Boi<&sol;strong>&&num;8216&semi;&comma; <strong>who is Black&comma; was in a parked SUV on the ramp of a car park when <strong>officers moved in on him to serve an arrest warrant because he was in violation of of his probation for being a felon in possession of a firearm<&sol;strong><&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>A US Marshals spokesperson said Smith&comma; 32&comma; &&num;8216&semi;produced a handgun resulting in task force members firing upon the subject&&num;8217&semi; <&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>Diners at a nearby restaurant heard at least a dozen shots fired &&num;8211&semi; Smith died at the scene while his female passenger&comma; who was injured by shattered glass&comma; was dragged out and arrested<&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>The warrant was issued by authorities after the rapper posted an image of a gun and bullets on Instagram &&num;8211&semi; which violated his probation conditions <&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>The shooting happened after a crew of city workers began dismantling concrete barriers erected around George Floyd Square which blocked the thoroughfare to the public<&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>The memorial was set up after Floyd&comma; an unarmed Black man&comma; was murdered in May 2020 by Minneapolis cops during an arrest <&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>Protests had already broken out among activists angered by the removal of the shrine when news of the shooting reached them <&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>The shooting <strong>extended a night of protests&comma;<&sol;strong><&sol;strong> as u<strong>nhappy locals gathered around the the car park where Smith was killed&comma; before they barricaded off streets and a dumpster was set on fire <&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<h2 class&equals;"has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;4b4545"><strong>In protests that lasted till early Friday&comma; several businesses were raided and damaged before police finally dispersed the rioters with tear gas <&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Winston-Boogie-Smith-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380611"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Rapper Winston Boogie Smith&comma; <strong>aka &&num;8216&semi;Wince Me Boi<&sol;strong>&&num;8216&semi;&comma;<&sol;strong> <strong>was shot and killed by Marshals on Thursday when he was being arrested on warrant charging him with possession of firearms or ammunition as a felon&period; Cops allege he produced a gun as they approached as he sat in a parked SUV&period; Officers opened fire<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">The victim of Thursday&&num;8217&semi;s fatal shooting in Minneapolis on Thursday by members of a US Marshals task force for allegedly pulling a gun on them as they attempted to serve an arrest warrant has been identified as a musician with an extensive criminal record who was previously convicted of a felony aggravated robbery&comma; according to law enforcement sources&period; <br>The fatal shooting&comma; coupled with the dismantling of George Floyd Square&comma; sparked bouts of civil unrest&comma; vandalism and looting of businesses overnight in Minneapolis&comma; leading to multiple arrests&period;  <br>Although his identity has not been officially confirmed by the authorities&comma; friends and family on Friday named the deceased suspect as 32-year-old Winston Boogie Smith&comma; a father-of-two from Minneapolis&period;<br>A US Marshals task force moved in on Smith who was wanted &&num;8216&semi;on a state arrest warrant&&num;8217&semi; for a probation violation &&num;8211&semi; a felon in possession of a firearm &&num;8211&semi; after he posted a picture of what appeared to be himself sitting in a car with a gun and a box of bullets&period;<br>As the marshalls approached him outside a parking garage at around 2pm on Thursday in the Uptown neighborhood&comma; just three miles away from George Floyd Square&period; Smith&comma; who was in a parked SUV&comma; &&num;8216&semi;produced a handgun resulting in task force members firing upon the subject&comma;&&num;8217&semi; Hennepin County Sheriff&&num;8217&semi;s Department said&period; <br>He was pronounced dead at the scene&period; His female passenger was injured by shattered glass and was taken into custody after being treated for minor injuries&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Winston-Boogie-Smiths-Instragram-post-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380622"&sol;><figcaption><strong>The warrant for Smith&&num;8217&semi;s arrest was issued less than two weeks after he posted this photo on his public Instagram page<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Smith was a local hip hop artist who performed under the stage name &&num;8216&semi;Wince Me Boi&&num;8217&semi; and also appeared in comedy videos&period; In January 2020&comma; he released a single dedicated to his children titled Goodbye&period;<br>Friends and relatives took to Facebook and Twitter to pay tribute to Smith as news of his killing spread&period;<br>According to court records&comma; Smith had racked up at least 20 arrests since 2007 on charges ranging from minor traffic violations to drug and marijuana possession&period; In 2017&comma; he was convicted of felony aggravated robbery&comma; was handed a three-year stayed sentence and was put on probation&period;<br>Under the conditions of his probation&comma; Smith was required to stay in regular contact with his probation officer&comma; submit to random drug testing&comma; find a job and possess no firearms&period; <br>After posting an image of a gun and bullets on Instagram&comma; a probation violation hearing was called on May 5&period; WCCO reported that when Smith failed to show up at the hearing&comma; a warrant was issued for his arrest&period;   <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Winston-Boogie-Smith-3&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380614" width&equals;"658" height&equals;"1017"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Local hip hop artist and father-of-two&comma; Winston Boogie Smith&comma; &lbrack;photo&rsqb;&comma; 32&comma; aka &&num;8216&semi;Wince Me Boi&&num;8217&semi;&comma; was shot and killed by members of a US Marshals task force in Minneapolis on Thursday&period; Smith&comma; who was wanted for a probation violation&comma; pulled a gun on officers&comma; police said <&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Cops-investigate-at-spot-where-Winston-Boogie-Smith-was-shot-and-killed-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380627"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Cops investigate at spot where Winston Boogie Smith was shot and killed by officers attempting to serve a warrant on top of a parking ramp in Minneapolis on June 3<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Cops-seal-street-in-Minneapolis-on-Thursday-anticipating-protests-after-cops-shot-and-killed-Winston-Boogie-Smith-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380631"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Officers of MPD seal Uptown section of Minneapolis&comma; anticipating protests after US Marshalls shot and killed Winston Boogie Smith while serving a warrant on the same day that the controversial dismantling of George Floyd square was executed<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"> Officers who were involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave&period; Minneapolis police played no role in the incident&period;<br>A spokeswoman with the US Marshals said the Marshals lead the joint task force executing the arrest&comma; which is comprised of several agencies&comma; including sheriff’s offices from Hennepin&comma; Anoka and Ramsey counties&comma; the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Department of Homeland Security&period; <br>The gunfire erupted on the fifth floor of a parking ramp at West Lake Street and South Fremont Avenue&period;  <br>A bartender from a nearby business <a rel&equals;"noreferrer noopener" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;startribune&period;com&sol;law-enforcement-kills-man-in-minneapolis-uptown-neighborhood&sol;600064304&sol;&quest;refresh&equals;true">said<&sol;a> several of his patrons heard eight to a dozen shots&comma; then saw officers grab the female passenger from the suspect&&num;8217&semi;s vehicle&period;<br>A neighbor who lives across from the parking ramp told the paper she heard more than a dozen shots&comma; followed by a pause&comma; and then even more shots&period; <br><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Winston-Boogie-Smith-right-with-civil-rights-attorney-Ben-Crump-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380633" width&equals;"693" height&equals;"821"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Winston Smith&comma; seen &lbrack;right with civil rights attorney Ben Crump&rsqb;&comma; had received a stayed sentence and was placed on probation stemming from a 2017 conviction on an aggravated robbery charge<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Smith had received a stayed sentence and was placed on probation stemming from a 2017 conviction on an aggravated robbery charge&period; <br>The killing upset his family and riled an already tense community&period; Tamara Wilson&comma; who identified herself as Smith&&num;8217&semi;s younger sister&comma; accused law enforcement officials of trying to assassinate her brother&&num;8217&semi;s character after taking his life&period; <br>Minneapolis police said news of the shooting sparked &&num;8216&semi;numerous&&num;8217&semi; instances of vandalism and looting overnight&period; <br>The shooting came after crews began dismantling concrete barriers around the so-called &&num;8216&semi;autonomous zone&&num;8217&semi; of George Floyd Square&comma; which were set up as a memorial after he was murdered in May 2020&period;<br>Protests had already broken out among activists angered by the removal of the shrine when news of the shooting in Uptown reached them&period;<br>People soon gathered in Uptown&comma; crowding around the crime scene and chanting anti-police slogans&comma; before they barricaded off Lake Street and Girard Avenue where a dumpster was torched&period;<br>The trash receptacle eventually melted into a &&num;8216&semi;puddle of fire&comma;&&num;8217&semi; a TV reporter at the scene tweeted&period; Several dozen protesters were observed throwing more items into the dumpster to feed the blaze&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;George-Floyd-Square-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380654"&sol;><figcaption><strong>George Floyd Square with it&&num;8217&semi;s stand out clenched fist&comma; when first installed&comma; created a roundabout at the intersection in the square&period; It was dismantled by city workers early Thursday morning&comma; However&comma; the sculpture of the fist is expected to stay at the center of the intersection<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;George-Floyd-Square-5&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380670"&sol;><figcaption><strong>George Floyd Square became a gathering place for those mourning the death of George Floyd<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">It took police more than 40 minutes to respond and by the time they arrived cars and motorcycles had shown up to help protesters block off the streets&comma; according to independent journalist <a rel&equals;"noreferrer noopener" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;twitter&period;com&sol;RebsBrannon&sol;status&sol;1400663169060769795">Rebecca Brannon<&sol;a>&period;   <br>Brannon filmed the moment police began &&num;8216&semi;aggressively&&num;8217&semi; moving in on protesters&comma; shooting tear gas into the intersection to clear them out&period; <br>Firefighters were later filmed extinguishing the fire and cleaning up the intersection&period; <br>Fighting and looting broke out across the city as the streets remained filled with protesters until the early hours of the morning&period; Several stores and businesses were either raided by looters and officers were later deployed to prevent further damage to property&period;<br><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Minneapolis-police-used-tear-gas-to-disperse-protests-after-city-workers-began-dismantling-George-Floyd-Square-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380638"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Minneapolis police used tear gas to disperse protests after city workers began dismantling George Floyd Square<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Buildings near the scene of the shooting were vandalized and spray-painted with the words&comma; &&num;8216&semi;Kill cops&&num;8217&semi; and &&num;8216&semi;No trial for them&&num;8217&semi;&comma; while others hurled abuse at officers calling them&comma; &&num;8216&semi;F&ast;&ast;&ast;ing Nazis&&num;8217&semi; and &&num;8216&semi;White supremacists&period;&&num;8217&semi;The shooting took place three miles away from George Floyd Square in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis&comma; but police allegedly failed to respond for more than 40 minutes as the fire raged&period;<br>Protesters barricaded off Lake Street and Girard Avenue before starting the fire&period;<br>Minneapolis police used tear gas on protesters who lit fires that burned for more than 40 minutes after city workers began dismantling George Floyd Square&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Minneapolis-police-used-tear-gas-to-disperse-protests-after-city-workers-began-dismantling-George-Floyd-Square-2&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380640"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Police allegedly failed to respond for more than 40 minutes as the fire raged as locals protested the dismantling of George Floyd square in Minneapolis on Thursday<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Car-park-where-cops-shot-and-killed-Winston-Boogie-Smith-while-serving-a-warrant-on-June-3&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380642"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Police cruisers surround the parking ramp where cops shot and killed Winston Boogie Smith while serving a warrant on Thursday<&sol;strong> <strong>afternoon after the suspect wielded a handgun<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Protesters-gather-outside-the-parking-ramp-in-Minneapolis-after-the-fatal-shooting-of-Winston-Smith-as-police-cordon-off-area-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380645"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Protesters gather outside the parking ramp in Minneapolis where US Marshals fatally shot Winston Smith as police stand guard after cordoning off the area <&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">The riot came after crews began dismantling George Floyd Square in the early hours of Thursday morning&comma; surprising many residents waking up&period; Crews removed concrete barriers as well as artwork&comma; flowers and other memorial items from the intersection where Floyd was murdered last year&period; <br>A fist sculpture&comma; which stands several feet tall and created a traffic roundabout&comma; will remain in the middle of the intersection&period;  <br>The removal of barriers means traffic can once again begin to flow through the intersection&comma; although for now the fist statue will serve as a makeshift roundabout&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<iframe width&equals;"560" height&equals;"315" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;youtube&period;com&sol;embed&sol;bj8l5joL0v0" title&equals;"YouTube video player" frameborder&equals;"0" allow&equals;"accelerometer&semi; autoplay&semi; clipboard-write&semi; encrypted-media&semi; gyroscope&semi; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen><&sol;iframe>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Construction workers dismantle George Floyd square in Minneapolis early Thursday morning sparking protests<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Floyd was killed during an arrest in May 2020 by Derek Chauvin&period; The former Minneapolis police officer was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder&comma; third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd&&num;8217&semi;s neck for about 9 1&sol;2 minutes as Floyd pleaded for air while handcuffed face down on the street&period;<br>Chauvin has also been indicted on federal charges alleging he violated Floyd&&num;8217&semi;s civil rights&comma; as well as the civil rights of a 14-year-old he restrained in a 2017 arrest&period;<br>The three other former Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd&&num;8217&semi;s death were also charged with federal civil rights violations&period; They await trial in state court on aiding and abetting counts&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2020&sol;07&sol;Derek-Chauvin-left-and-George-Floyd-right-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"This image has an empty alt attribute&semi; its file name is Derek-Chauvin-left-and-George-Floyd-right-1&period;jpg" width&equals;"835" height&equals;"592"&sol;><figcaption><strong>George Floyd &lbrack;right&rsqb;&comma; was murdered at the intersection on May 25 2020 after trying to buy cigarettes at Cup Foods convenience store with a fake &dollar;20 bill&period; Former Minneapolis police sergeant Derek Chauvin &lbrack;left&rsqb;&comma; was convicted for killing Floyd <&sol;strong> <&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Within four hours&comma; work in the area was complete&comma; though protesters spent time shouting &&num;8216&semi;no justice&comma; no peace&&num;8217&semi; during some of the dismantling&period; <br>Additionally&comma; two news photographers trying to document what was taking place were met with resistance&comma; with one being threatened physically&period; <br>After the square was cleared&comma; many people remained in the area to observe what had just taken place&comma; although the dismantling passed-off peacefully&comma; with community group members and protesters later seen eating coffee and donuts&period; <br>The garden that was in front of the sculpture will be moved to another location nearby&comma; a community spokesperson said&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Construction-crews-clearing-George-Floyd-Square-in-Minneapolis-early-on-June-3&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380650"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Construction crews commissioned by city clear George Floyd Square in Minneapolis early on June 3<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Protests-as-crews-dismantle-George-Floyd-Square-2&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380659"&sol;><figcaption><strong>Groups of dismayed local residents squared off to the workers &&num;8216&semi;no justice&comma; no peace&&num;8217&semi; as the square was being cleared<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;George-Floyd-Square-4&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380664"&sol;><figcaption><strong>The construction crew wrap up the &&num;8216&semi;unpopular task&&num;8217&semi; of dismantling of George Floyd square after installing stop signs on Thursday<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">A joint statement was issued by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey&comma; City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and City Council Member Alondra Cano stating that &&num;8216&semi;The City&&num;8217&semi;s three guiding principles for the reconnection of 38th and Chicago have been community safety&comma; racial healing and economic stability and development for Black&comma; Indigenous&comma; Latinx&comma; Asian and other communities of color&period;&&num;8217&semi; Adding that &&num;8216&semi;the Agape Movement brought together community leadership to begin facilitating the phased reconnection this morning&comma; with the City playing a supportive role&period; We are grateful for the partnership&period;<br>&&num;8216&semi;We are collectively committed to establishing a permanent memorial at the intersection&comma; preserving the artwork&comma; and making the area an enduring space for racial healing&comma;&&num;8217&semi; the release stated&period;<br>Concluding that&comma; &&num;8216&semi;alongside City leadership&comma; 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&period;&&num;8217&semi; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;George-Floyd-Square-6&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380674"&sol;><figcaption><strong> The memorial square had become a beacon frequented by activists near the spot where Floyd was killed by Derek Chauvin a Minneapolis police sergeant who has since been convicted for murder<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">he intersection at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue has been closed to traffic and became a primary gathering place for those mourning Floyd&&num;8217&semi;s death&period; Furthermore the area has seen a spike in gun violence in recent months&comma; with shooting victims dragged to ambulances that were unable to get into the square because of the barriers&period; <br>In the past&comma; Mayor Jacob Frey has called for a &&num;8216&semi;phased reopening&&num;8217&semi; of the square&period; <br>The community group Agape&comma; which contracted with the city to keep watch over the area&comma; worked to coordinate the effort&comma; according to city spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie&period; <br>Agape told KTSP that the the barricades were being removed for security purposes&comma; as well as to promote community healing&colon; &&num;8216&semi;There&&num;8217&semi;s a chance and a time for this community to get back to a new normal&period; That&&num;8217&semi;s what we&&num;8217&semi;re trying to establish&comma;&&num;8217&semi; <a rel&equals;"noreferrer noopener" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;fox9&period;com&sol;news&sol;george-floyd-square-being-reopened-to-traffic-thursday">said<&sol;a> Agape Senior Advisor&comma; Steve Floyd&period; <br>&&num;8216&semi;The fist sculpture is going to remain in the roundabout&comma;&&num;8217&semi; McKenzie said&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-large"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;06&sol;Locals-protest-over-dismantling-of-George-Floyd-Square-1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-380678"&sol;><figcaption><strong> community leader speaks to residents at George Floyd Square on June 3<&sol;strong><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">The city is replacing the concrete barriers around the sculpture itself&comma; with &&num;8216&semi;bumpouts&&num;8217&semi; around the sculpture&comma; while a permanent solution regarding the memorial is being discussed between the city&comma; community members&comma; and Floyd&&num;8217&semi;s family&period; <br>Some neighborhood residents and others have expressed frustration that the intersection has been closed to private and transit vehicles for nearly a year&period; Similarly a bus route that went through the intersection has been unusable for a year&comma; though service should be restored soon after the square is cleared&period; <br><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"><br><&sol;p>&NewLine;

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