Coming to you all from the epicenter of a civil rights revolution, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since the creation of Hive, I don’t think I’ve missed a night of posting. It’s been an entire week since my last post, and given the circumstances, I’m going to forgive myself on that. May 25th, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. By now, everyone’s seen the video. I don’t need to go in to the details. Following his murder, the city’s anger and outrage boiled over creating imagery that’ll forever define 2020. COVID-19 masks and Molotov cocktails.
Another thing I don’t really want to get in to is the faults and virtues of protestors, riots, looters, etc. Everyone has their opinion, and by now, most people are dug in on where they stand. There have been billions of shared memes endorsing those opinions. One thing I will mention, however, is that as a person on the ground in the city that this has all began, there is much of the story not being told by FOX, CNN and MSNBC. In the blockchain community, I’m confident that most of us get our news from sources outside of those conglomerate media machines, but I digress. Just know that much of the Hong Kong style intent to insight violence by those meant to “enforce peace” is in full effect here in the Twin Cities.
Firstly, I have to preface this by saying nothing I say or describe here is in any way meant to diminish the loss of Mr. Floyd and the countless lives lost prior, or since his own. For the last five nights, we’ve been a curfew mandated by our Mayor and Governor. It has become a police state, with military helicopters flying over my house, armored cars and National Guard marching through our streets with AR-15’s. Videos of the police shooting citizens on their porches with rubber bullets. It is as Orwellian as you could possibly imagine. The ripple effect in cities across the world is the same with most protestors, as is the police response.
Personally, I’ve been aiding my friends on the front lines. I’ve gone to a few protests, but I have to balance the desire to be in direct action, and responsible for my son. Getting seriously hurt, killed or arrested is not a possibility for me. It would have catastrophic consequences for my son’s future. Instead, I’m giving rides, food, money, equipment, even letting a friend borrow my work camera for neighborhood watch/surveillance. My calls, social media reach and signatures on petitions are also effective tools in this, even if my direct action is limited. Also, my role as a committee member of the Minneapolis Green Zone Task force is more important than ever, as part of our responsibility is allocating $100K annually to Minneapolis programs and city initiatives.
I’ve been wanting to take my son to Mr. Floyd’s memorial on 38th and Chicago, but until today, it didn’t feel like a responsible decision. Something showed up on my Instagram feed calling for signatures at a petition to recall Mike Freeman, the Hennepin County Attorney. Apparently, at a certain number of signatures, a recall for a new election is automatic. It was being held at the 38th and Chicago, where George Floyd was killed, and after some consideration, @guthrie and I did go. It was a truly somber, but beautiful space. It isn’t what you’re seeing on the TV. Thousands of mourners peacefully gathered poignantly celebrating his life and the revolution that was sparked by it being taken before his time.
I did ask him while we were there, what he thought of it all. He said it was sad, but felt like everyone that loved each other. Being there embodied everything that made me decide to move my entire life, on my thirtieth birthday, from Scranton, PA to Minneapolis. We left, and I felt good about our decision to go. On the way home, we drove past @guthrie’s half brothers’ home in South Minneapolis. I said, “...look to your right.”. He glanced out the window and saw a dozen National Guard troops holding automatic weapons. To that, he said “Okay. Now I feel scared.”. To me, an 8 year old perfectly summed up my feelings and what actually scares me.
Remember, this is all on top of a pandemic! We were all adjusting to a new normal, and now there is already a new, far more frightening “normal”. I’ve been focused on protection my family, and my home. Last night, a thunderstorm swept through Minneapolis, and just before sundown, it cleared up. Curfew [...I fucking hate that word in how demeaning it is, like we’re a bunch of fucking children] was 10:00p.m. I took my drone out, took a chance knowing it could be potentially be shot down, and made a few videos of our city. It’s a documentation of a moment in our city’s painful history of racial violence and what we're doing to go to change it.
▶️ 3Speak
Thank you for this perspective, not only via video and photos, but your writing as well. As residents of very rural Missouri, it’s incredibly hard to fathom what you all are going through. Stay safe out there.
Beautiful video, stay safe and hive on :)
Thanks, @vikisecrets! Quite a risk flying this thing given the circumstances here in Minneapolis. I’m glad you like it.
Lol “curfew” I drove past dozens of squad cars and soldiers. Everyone was still out doing whatever.
tio, you were in the riot too?
The cops were the only ones rioting.
You should arm up
You're right in wanting to protect your family, there's so many emotions surrounding George Floyd's murder, it's been some really stressful times in Minneapolis and I hope it eases out with time.
It’s been tough, @josediccus! We’re hopeful for change.
Mike Freeman is the Hennepin County Attorney, not the MPD officer's union leader. That would be Bob Kroll.
I haven't kept a magnifying glass on Freeman, and I realize that earlier charges might have prevented some of the chaos, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of doubt for the moment.
Now whoever's decision it was to not police the neighborhood around the 3rd Precinct station last Wednesday, and abandon it the next night, they need to go. I don't care if it was the mayor or police chief or whoever else. They should have resigned already. But if they won't leave, the residents of Minneapolis should be demanding it.
Thanks so much for that correction, @pfunk. Even more thankful this was all passed off to Keith Ellison then.
That's horrible. Thanks for sharing this account though. It helps those of us that are outside of the epicenters of this stuff. Being two hours North of Detroit we really haven't been impacted too much by any of this. There are protests happening in some of the smaller towns, but for the most part they are peaceful. It is interesting that a city so far North has become ground zero. You would have thought it would be farther south just given historic and current attitudes.
Stay safe bro. It’s been a crazy few days(months?) and hopefully now that proper charges have been issued for all involved the chaos can settle down and we can start thinking about some systemic changes and improvements.
Yeah, @midlet. We’re doing okay. I think we’re still under a curfew, but the last few days have been calmer. I feel like as a city, we’re getting past the anger phase, moving in to the acceptance phase.
This place is on fire. They need to fight for justice!
Historically, change does follow riots...as much as people may not like them. There are some big developments here in Minneapolis. The case was handed over the Keith Ellison, who announced 2nd degree murder charges on Chauvin, and the other three officers were charged. Minneapolis Public Schools, University of Minnesota and many other museums and businesses have cut ties with MPD.
That is true. In England women's fight for the right to vote got pretty ugly until WWI demanded a middle ground.
A lot of pressure and anxiety must come from these things happening after a pandemic. It must require all of your mental strenght to remain calm. I agree with thinking twice before getting involved more, especially that you have a son. It is indeed disturbing to watch all of this violence in 2020
I don't get what you mean in Video? And about Floyd jumping to a pandemic? What is the connection?
It's good to hear and see the perspective of this FROM someone actually there @kommienezupsadt . I hope you and your family are safe.
We live in more rural area, yet still peopled. We are an hour south of our City Boston. @winstonalden has been making the trip there a few days a week as his shop is in the heart of the city off the Boston Common and thus in the midst of it all.
The city went from an odd 'post apocalyptic' video game feel during the virus of empty streets to one of shattered shop windows. Newbury street, which is a pretty upscale shopping blvd, is tattered and broken. Windows are now boarded up with ply and military patrol. We used to have an apartment one street over on Comm ave and I walked Newbury daily to window shop the expensive things, just for fun, and get my fresh fruit and veg from the local green grocer and stop in for coffee. It is unrecognizable now, more like the scenes we sometimes see of the places in the Middle East where we are 'bringing freedom'... Anyway.
I am glad you are safe. We wonder at our world. I don't know what happened to the virus, as now most seem to just go out in droves maskless, so I guess that's last weeks story? I dont' know. I live on the sea and driving past a public beach which was just allowed to open yesterday, it was PACKED with people inches apart, maskless and the town ( a town so small it has literally ONE main street and then houses and sea) was full of cars no parking and endless families, smiling and maskless in summer dresses and shorts. It felt odd. How was this? Were we not just in an odd New Normal?
Every day the surreal becomes the real. Perhaps surreal paintings will have to be a city with people at cafes and police happily helping little children and old ladies whilst people run happily in parks or stand arm in arm...
Thanks again for your perspective.
Very sad happening