What’s changed in Minneapolis four years after George Floyd’s death

Four years ago today, the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers ignited international protests over racism and calls for police reforms. Despite that global reach, it is still very much a local trauma for Minneapolis. John Yang speaks with Minnesota Public Radio senior reporter Jon Collins about how the lasting effects of Floyd’s death continue to shape the city. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It was four years ago today that George Floyd died while three Minneapolis Police Officers pinned him face down on the pavement. One of them pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck. Cellphone video the incident recorded by a teenage witness was seen around the world.

It ignited international protests over racism and police abuse and calls for police reforms. Despite that global reach for Minneapolis, it is still very much a local trauma.

Jon Collins is a senior reporter at Minneapolis Public Radio, he covers the future of policing. John four years on how much is this still part of daily life in Minneapolis? How present is it?

Jon Collins, Senior Reporter, Minneapolis Public Radio:

Yeah, it’s very present. You can walk down the streets and you see signs in people’s yards still you see murals of George Floyd. You know, if you go 10 blocks away from here, you’ll see George Floyd square, which is where activists have kind of set up, you know, a Mecca to memorialize Floyd.

And then on top of that this reform of the Minneapolis Police Department has been at the very forefront of what’s been happening in the city for many years now you know folks are still very aware of what happened George Floyd and thinking about how they might be able to avoid that happening in the future again.

John Yang:

When it comes to policing and public safety. Has anything changed?

Jon Collins:

Yeah, lots of change. I mean, the City of Minneapolis is — was investigated by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice. And both of them found glaring problems with the Minneapolis Police Department. So the Minnesota Department of Human Rights has a court enforced agreement with the City of Minneapolis requiring all sorts of changes.

You know, for instance, you know, one of the things they did right away, was ban chokeholds. And we also expect a federal consent decree to be coming down at some point here, which will make other requirements for the City of Minneapolis that they need to change with Minneapolis Police.

So that would make Minneapolis the first city to really experience both a state and a federal consent decree on policing at the same time. So there’s a lot happening right now. yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun yun

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