Ending the Occupation of 38th and Chicago, and Beginning the Path Forward for My Neighborhood
By: Eric S. Fought
Tags: George Floyd, Jacob Frey, 38th And Chicago, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Police

Ending the Occupation of 38th and Chicago, and Beginning the Path Forward for My Neighborhood Eric S. Fought Jun 8·3 min read

AP Photo

Ask those who live in the neighborhood surrounding the occupation of four city blocks including the intersection of 38th and Chicago in Minneapolis how they feel about the situation and you will undoubtedly get varying opinions. There are yard signs supporting the occupation. But that doesn’t tell the full story of the impact on the community in which I’ve lived for more than five years.

So, in February, the City of Minneapolis asked residents in the immediate vicinity what should happen next. 81% supported reopening with a permanent memorial. 81%.

Now, those occupying the four-block radius, most of whom do not live here or have any connection to this neighborhood, will tell you that the survey was “a sham.” That should indicate the concern shown to those who actually do make up this community — a diverse community of people from all walks of life who simply want to keep Bancroft and the surrounding neighborhoods safe, accessible to public transit, and connected to the rest of the city we all love.

There should be a permanent memorial to George Floyd and other victims of police violence and it should be at 38th and Chicago. However, the streets need to be reopened fully, businesses (many owned by BIPOC entrepreneurs) operating and supported by customer traffic and city initiatives, and the “no-go zone” eliminated once and for all.

We can continue to properly memorialize what happened, push for necessary reform and greater accountability, and end the occupation at the same time. And we must.

This is an ongoing failure of leadership of unfathomable proportions. That failure of course is rooted at City Hall, with a Mayor and City Council focused on ideology rather than governance, appeasing radical fringe activists rather than leading a representative democracy. That failure of leadership goes beyond the Mayor’s Office and Council Chambers. It also extends to city departments and their heads, including Public Works, MPD and MFD.

However, what has been called the progressive movement, a movement which I spent many years a part of, working with, and leading, has also failed. It’s time for leaders of that movement to step up and step in and end this occupation, which is endangering lives, livelihoods, and the shared life of one of Minneapolis’ most diverse and civic-minded neighborhood communities.

City crews, working with community leaders, have attempted to reopen the streets involved twice in the last week. That strategy has clearly failed. Those occupying the area are breaking the law and it is time for the law to be enforced.

Those of us who live in the neighborhood surrounding 38th and Chicago didn’t kill George Floyd, Derek Chauvin did. And he’s been convicted of the hideous offense he committed. It’s time for us to move forward in creating a permanent memorial while ensuring a safe and equitable place to live for those who actually live here.