Downtown Minneapolis is ready for the verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial, the former police officer charged with George Floyd’s death.
WCCO morning news anchor Steve Simpson tells us many buildings are becoming boarded up in anticipation, especially at the courthouse.
“What’s called the Hennepin County Government Centre, it’s a large high rise building. Perhaps you’ve seen it on television, behind some of the reporters who are doing standups outside… our studios happen to be about a block from that building,” says Simpson.
He adds after the initial riots tapered off, the downtown loosened up a bit, but that has changed.
Simpson is also advising not to count the defense out, in that it will present it’s side following the prosecution’s tough video of George Floyd’s final moments.
“It’s got to be a unanimous vote for a guilty verdict, otherwise it’s a hung jury. All they’re looking for is one to give them enough reasonable doubt. That’s what the defense is going for right now, because clearly they’ve got an uphill fight. But, it’s not impossible, by any means,” points out the morning news anchor.
As far the government is concerned, federal, state and local officials in Minneapolis are not messing around.
“With each milestone of the trial, we’re going to see more and more police and national guard troops on the streets. So by the time the verdict gets here, we will be at the highest level of engagement,” says Simpson.
He is confident, though, the downtown will bounce back, even as COVID-19 closed businesses and buildings were boarded up during the riots.
“There’s no thought of bringing anybody back downtown until this trial is over. This trial is keeping anyone from discussing the idea of bringing people back to work. That is perhaps different than other cities around the country,” he says.
George Floyd, a black man, died May 25th, 2020, while in Minneapolis police custody. Former officer Derek Chauvin has been charged in the death, after video showed the officers’ handling of Floyd, a video which drew people from around the world to protest in many cities.
