Deena Winter, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Jenny Gross, The New York Times
Published: 04 Jun 2021 01:07 PM BdST
Updated: 04 Jun 2021 01:07 PM BdST Crews arrived early Thursday, June 3, 2021, with bulldozers and front loaders to remove barriers that have for more than a year blocked the intersection outside of Cup Foods in Minneapolis where George Floyd was killed beneath the knee of a police officer just over a year ago. The New York Times
The bulldozers arrived before dawn Thursday at the South Minneapolis intersection where the police killed George Floyd. Moving quickly, city workers in neon vests hauled away flowers, artwork and large cement barricades that have allowed the corner to serve as an ever-growing memorial to Floyd for more than a year.
Two Minnesota sheriff s deputies who were on a US Marshals task force shot and killed felon Winston Boogie Smith, 32, while trying to serve an arrest warrant for illegally carrying a firearm.
A year after Mr. Floyd was killed by the police, the city of Minneapolis removed barricades around the square. It said it will preserve the artwork and memorials there.
Minneapolis city workers begin dismantling George Floyd Square at dawn in bid to reopen intersection to traffic - but makeshift roundabout with clenched fist statue will stay
A fist sculpture, which stands several feet tall and created a traffic roundabout, will remain in the middle of the intersection near where George Floyd was killed
City crews and a community-led group began the work about 4:30am local time
Crews removed concrete barriers as well as art, flowers and memorial items
Within four hours, work in the area was complete, though protesters remained
The intersection at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue and four blocks surrounding it have been closed to traffic since Floyd s murder in May 2020
Once one of the busiest intersections in Minneapolis has transformed into a makeshift memorial garden. Those who maintain it are deeply invested in its somewhat undetermined future.