A look at the history some say is fueling the Twin Cities protests

Good morning. Much of the nation's attention is focused on the Twin Cities after a civilian died at the hands of police. This time, it was George Floyd, 46, of St. Louis Park.

Today’s newsletter will focus on a bit of context that some say is driving the protests.

A vast majority of those protesting the killing of George Floyd were nonviolent. The looting and property damage has been extensive and led to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey ordering officers to evacuate the 3rd Precinct Thursday night and Gov. Tim Walz's order to bring in the National Guard. But the protests started peacefully and some organizers have insisted their events remain peaceful.

The anger on display has long roots in MInnesota and elsewhere. Here, it’s the result of long-held frustrations with how the legal system has historically treated people of color, said civil rights lawyer and activist Nekima Levy Pounds. “For black Americans, it’s very easy to look at the video and to know that something horrible and egregious and unlawful happened. It is not rocket science,” she said. "White people who are conscious can look at that video and they can see the same things that we saw, which is a man murdered in broad daylight in front of our eyes, on video, and the officers — all four of them — their callous disregard for a black life and human life."

There’s a history of racism and inequity in Minnesota. Consider Interstate 94 that runs through the Twin Cities. Built in the 1950s, it cut through a black neighborhood, tearing apart a community while destroying hundreds of African Americans’ homes and businesses. In Minneapolis, Minnesota’s biggest city, racially restrictive housing covenants segregated the city.

That history persists today. Minnesota continues to have some of the worst racial disparities in the nation, particularly when it comes to kids’ well being and education, and widespread economic inequality. Homes near the corner in Minneapolis where George Floyd was killed used to have covenants designed to keep out black people, the New York Times reports. Evidence of the segregation from those covenants remains today.

Minneapolis police have a history of racism, excessive force complaints and fatal shootings of civilians.

Officers have disproportionately targeted people of color, especially those in the black community, for decades. In 2009, the city settled a suit where five former officers, all black, alleged racism within the department. In 2018, officers detained four Somali boys in a city park after a bogus 911 call, one officer drawing a gun on the boys. Also two years ago, officers at a north Minneapolis precinct erected a racist Christmas tree.

The city has paid out tens of millions of dollars to settle misconduct claims in the past two decades. Two of the officers involved in Floyd’s killing had excessive force allegations on their record.

Minneapolis police are responsible for many high-profile deaths including Terrance Franklin, Jamar Clark and Justine Ruszczyk. And nearby in a St. Paul suburb, an officer shot Philando Castile in another police killing captured on video.

Some in the Twin Cities community see officers acting with impunity. “The fact that these officers were being filmed by bystanders and still continued to engage in that conduct shows you everything about the culture of the Minneapolis Police Department,” Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, told the New York Times. “They feel they’re immune to any kind of accountability. They feel they can get away with it.”

When it comes to the violent protests, some activists say people need to understand what’s behind the actions. Marc Lamont Hill, an activist and Temple University professor, tweeted that people should avoid the term “riots” to describe what’s happening: “These are REBELLIONS. This isn’t random or irrational violence. This is organized resistance to an evil system that only pays attention [when] it feels financially or physically unsafe.”

In the latest news surrounding Floyd’s killing, the FBI has vowed to move quickly in its investigation. The agency is looking into possible civil rights violations and is asking anyone near the scene to come forward. Locally, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman asked for patience as authorities gather evidence. “I will not rush justice because justice cannot be rushed ,” Freeman said. There was no doubt the officer’s actions were “excessive and wrong," he said, but "the question in my business is — is this criminal?”

Now, onto COVID-19. Minnesota is nearing 1,000 deaths from the virus and health officials say they’re expecting a surge in cases stemming from the Floyd protests. State health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the large gatherings pose a virus transmission risk, reiterating her plea for people to wear masks and socially distance. “I’m understanding the forecast is for very large protests this weekend, with a lot of people coming in from across the state and around the country and gathering in large groups,” she said. “That’s almost sure to have an impact on furthering spread.”

Here are the latest coronavirus statistics:

22,947 confirmed cases via 225,208 tests

967 deaths

2,880 cases requiring hospitalization

606 people remain hospitalized; 242 in intensive care

16,655 patients no longer needing isolation

— Cody Nelson, MPR News | @codyleenelson