George Floyd Square Remains a Sacred Site for Healing, Justice, and Joy

From attending the “Rise & Remember” festival in George Floyd Square to boycotting Target, we can’t let Floyd’s death be in vain (Photo Credit: Lorie Shaull). 

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

This article was originally published on Word In Black.

With the murder of George Perry Floyd on May 25, 2020, by former police officer Derek Chauvin, the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis changed forever. It became a site of protest and gathering — and a place of mourning, solace, and reflection for the surrounding community.

Five years later, that same location — now known as George Floyd Square — continues to draw people seeking justice, fellowship, and healing. And during this commemorative weekend marking the fifth anniversary of Floyd’s death, the square once again becomes a space of remembrance.

Indeed, people in Minneapolis will have little difficulty remembering the horror of George Floyd’s murder, but they do so within the context of the fifth-annual “Rise and Remember” festival. The three-day event brings the community together to grieve, continue to heal, and take in joy.

“We have been through collective trauma and a major fight against racism. We marched, we fought, and we have sustained our collective work,” said Angela Harrelson, board co-chair and aunt of George Floyd, in a statement on the event’s website. 

Boycotting Target to Commemorate Floyd’s Murder

People nationwide will surely be standing collectively with Harrelson and other folks gathered in George Floyd Square — and some will do so through their boycott of Target, which is headquartered in Minneapolis. Earlier this year, the corporation walked back the DEI commitments it made after Floyd’s murder, sparking the boycott. The Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant has now called for a recommitment to the National Target Boycott in honor of this weekend’s anniversary — and is asking people to take a “spiritual stand for justice, remembrance and hope.”

As Bryant wrote on Instagram, “Wait until the world sees 50 churches across the country rise up in righteous indignation on Sunday with peaceful prayer protest!”

A Space Full of Purpose

As for writer Michael Kleber-Diggs, George Floyd Square still holds plenty of purpose. He wrote for Minneapolis.org that on a recent walk, he observed the original 24 Demands “posted on the facade of People’s Way are still there.”

According to Kleber-Diggs, “Many of those demands remain in progress, although some have been met — including bringing the officers to justice, investing in George Floyd Square, providing space for community organizations, and preserving the square as a memorial.” 

“We must not let Perry’s death be his last word.” 

– Angela Harrelson, Aunt of George Floyd

Kleber-Diggs also pointed out the presence of a community library, a clothing donation station, gardens, and a bus stop that doubles as an information kiosk.

He did have one realization, though.

“As I left George Perry Floyd Square, my main takeaway was this: the work continues. Good people are still there working to imagine better and to make a better and safer world a reality,” Kleber-Diggs wrote. 

“Now is the time for the people to rise up and continue the good work we started,” Harrelson said. “We must not let Perry’s death be his last word.”

About Post Author

Word In Black

The Word In Black Racial Equity Fund, a component fund of Local Media Foundation, supports the work of Black-owned and operated local news media by providing critical journalism resources for Word In Black, a collaborative effort of 10 legendary Black publishers.

Soon after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Local Media Foundation established the Fund, originally called the Fund for Black Journalism. In the months after launch, donations to the Fund provided resources for LMF and 10 of the nation’s leading Black-owned local news organizations — AFRO News, The Atlanta Voice, Dallas Weekly, Houston Defender, Michigan Chronicle, New York Amsterdam News, Sacramento Observer, Seattle Medium, St. Louis American, and Washington Informer — to establish Word In Black.

Word In Black is a digital startup unlike any other in the news media industry. It is the only national brand backed by legacy Black-owned news publishers, with strong histories and deep trust in their communities. Word In Black started small, with limited funding, and has grown quickly over the past few years.

The Word In Black Racial Equity Fund supports journalism projects focused on solutions to racial inequities. Funding generally supports journalists who work for Word In Black, as well as journalists working for the 10 publishers. The Fund currently covers costs of 10 Word In Black journalists: an education reporter, education data journalist, health reporter, health data journalist, newsletter editor, climate justice reporter, community and audience engagement manager, finance reporter, religion reporter and the managing editor. The 10 publishers work with the WIB team to localize the stories in their markets, as well as producing their own original reporting.

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