This is My Twin Cities
By: Chris Turner
Tags: Race, Equality, Society, Minneapolis, Justice For George Floyd

Let me tell you about my Minneapolis and St. Paul — the Twin Cities.

For the past few days, you’ve likely watched the Twin Cities burn. Our divisive president called peaceful protesters “thugs.” A police precinct, major box stores, Mom & Pop shops … all have been destroyed in the past 3–4 days in the fallout from the May 25 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

I’m here to show you the heart of our community, the people who have uplifted their neighbors and helped out during a time of immense need. I don’t want the images of burned-out buildings to be your lasting impression of Minneapolis and the Twin Cities.

Folks already pushed to the brink with fear and anxiety because of COVID-19 were hurt again this as critical stores, pharmacies and restaurants servicing their areas were destroyed.

Yet, the focus of communities and neighborhoods in the Twin Cities the past two days has been about cleaning up the damage and rebuilding. As a former journalist married to a nurse, I know without a doubt we would have been in the thick of the protests except one thing — my wife is eight months pregnant. It’s a beautiful time, but it’s frustrating not to be able to be a part of marches for justice.

So, when a friend of mine put out a call for help in North Minneapolis, where my wife and I live, we saw our opportunity to help our neighbors. I shared a post on Facebook about several drives to help out folks who were unable to get necessary supplies and food since their primary stores were either closed or knocked out.

Two large carts were filled with supplies thanks to generous donations of money. (Photo by Chris Turner)

I love my friends, who immediately responded by sending me more than $1,000 to use for supplies. Friends as far away as Alabama, Georgia and Texas, as well as those close by in the Metro, wanted to help. And even now, late Saturday, the donations continue.

Well, $1,200 later at the Costco, and it was time to get the supplies where they were needed most.

About a third of it went to help my friend, LaTrisha, who took supplies to a pair of senior living facilities in North Minneapolis. The residents had no way to go out and get what they needed.

From LaTrisha’s Facebook post later in the day:

“Beloved community, my heart is so full. Today, we dropped off 18 carloads of supplies … . We’ve raised over $1,500 that will be used to purchase more supplies in the coming days. The seniors were overwhelmed and overjoyed each time we drove up with another drop-off. They simply couldn’t believe the outpouring of concern for them. I woke up today (Saturday) pretty defeated, but now I have hope. This city is strong and filled with people who care and want to help. We are strong. We will find a way through this together.”

Senior living residents check out the many supplies dropped off to help them through this crisis. (Photo by LaTrisha)

LaTrisha received many, many donations on Sunday and expanded the reach of donations to five senior living facilities. (Photo by Chris Turner)

The remainder of the items — diapers, formula breakfast bars, non-perishable staples like rice, corn and beans, bread, feminine hygiene products, bottled water and canned fruit — went to another community site.

Community members come by to pick up needed supplies in the Camden neighborhood of North Minneapolis. (Photo by Chris Turner)

The most interesting thing from that drive: Many volunteers had just been dropping items off but stayed to help distribute supplies to the community.

Several of my friends were part of large contingents out all day Friday and Saturday cleaning up the devastation.

Sara lives in Saint Paul, which was hit hard on Thursday night along University Avenue, a main street that is home to the Green Line transit that goes between the two cities. Sara said she and her wife woke up Friday morning after a restless night spent listening to sirens.

A Boost Mobile store and a clothing store called DTLR on University Avenue in St. Paul was burned out. These are the areas folks were helping clean up. (Photo by Chris Turner)

They spent hours cleaning up the detritus that told the story of the night before: marking slugs fired at protestors by the police, a blood-soaked facemask, a young child’s homework worksheets, smashed liquor bottles, trash, security tags used by retail stores, plastic hangers, shoe boxes, price tags, a beautiful, well-worn scarf, torn.

These are not the friends mentioned here, but this is an example of two citizens helping clean up in St. Paul. (Photo by Chris Turner)

“I stood shoulder to shoulder with women and men, black, white, and Latinx, as we cleaned sidewalks and threw bricks back into the craters from which the buildings fell,” she said. “We never met or made a plan. People just pitched in where they could.”

Sara spent Saturday at the library on Lake Street in Minneapolis, site of most of the damage on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Many people came in to help move books to the back of the building, hoping to preserve them in case of a fire later that night.

Organizations, churches, and community leaders quickly organized to provide pop-up aid.

U.S. Post Office on Lake and E. 31st in Minneapolis that was burned down. It is close to the Minneapolis Police Department’s 5th Precinct, site of protesting on Friday night. (Photo by Ani)

My friend Ani also pitched in to clean up along Lake Street, including the smoldering remains of a U.S. Post Office.

They picked up medical supplies out in the suburbs where stores were more readily accessible, bringing the items back to Minneapolis to help those assisting anyone with injuries during the protests.

“It’s my responsibility as a community member who is demanding justice for George Floyd to show up and help my neighbors clean up, make sure kids have food and make sure protesters have access to first aid supplies” Ani said. “I can do it, so I should do it.”

Marsa and Michael helped clean up damage at a Target store on Lake Street in Minneapolis. (Photo by Marsa)

And it’s not just people living in Minneapolis and St. Paul who are concerned for their fellow Minnesotans. My friend Marsa and her 10-year-old son, Michael, drove in from an outer suburb to help. They cleaned the Target on Lake Street, an early target of destruction because of its proximity to the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct police building.

Marsa said she has had several talks with her son about what has happened this week.

“I want him to know not all police will treat him that way,” Marsa said. “Unfortunately, I have told him he will be judged by the color of his skin.”

Michael, a kind soul who wants justice for George Floyd, said he wants people to treat others kindly and not judge them by their race.

Said Marsa, “He is thankful we can come together to help clean up and says, ‘Minnesota has really good people.’”

There are more stories, I know.

I can only speak to what I’ve experienced this past week and what I’ve seen from my friends, neighbors, and community. Many folks are working hard to support communities throughout the two cities. This is just scratching the surface of how people are embracing their neighbors and their community.

We are strong and caring. We want justice for George Floyd and to repair a system that is flawed. We will rebuild our neighborhoods and communities and be even stronger for it.

This is the Twin Cities I want you to know … and remember.