Justice For George Floyd Is Served In Minneapolis - Change Is Gonna Come

People! I haven't posted here in a while, mainly because life has been so insane. There's been plenty to post about, and almost all of it has had something to do with the murder of George Floyd here in Minneapolis last May. Marches, art exhibits, protests, fundraisers, town meetings, petitions, social media posts, heated arguments ... all of it to try and get justice for a victim of police murder this time. And yesterday we got it. 

Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three murder counts yesterday, and Minneapolis erupted in a collective sigh of relief and complete jubilation through sobbing tears. People that weren't here cannot imagine what it felt like in the city. The TENSION. I'm somebody that has to DO something, or I'll go crazy, so yesterday I set out to get the vibe of the day, having no idea that a verdict would come in that afternoon. 

I began on Lake Street, where guys in yellow vests were everywhere, frantically boarding up the few glass windows that remained exposed. Business owners were torn about doing this again after the uprisings last May when Floyd was murdered, because you only board up if you think there's going to be riots, and there's only going to be riots if the murderer was found not guilty, and we didn't even want to let ourselves imagine that that could happen. But you also don't want to be sweeping up glass all over again, so most businesses caved in and threw up the plywood. 

 

Armored trucks and National Guard members with machine guns were patrolling nearly every corner. It was all very unsettling - but it didn't stop a couple from standing outside of my beloved Ingebretsen's trying to get some curbside sausage! (They were successful).

People were trying to go about their business, but you couldn't escape the ominous feeling of either impending doom or complete joy - it would only be one or the other, no in between. It's terribly sad that there was any sense of suspense AT ALL, as the entire world has watched George Floyd's life being snuffed out under Chauvin's knee on repeat for almost a year. 

There should have been exactly zero debate, but it's 2021 in America ... and you just never know. I had highly respected and intelligent activist friends tell me that thought there was no way Chauvin would be convicted. But we kept marching and yelling about it. We're EXHAUSTED, and I can only imagine how the Floyd family felt throughout. 

I decided to head downtown to see what it felt like, and I really didn't think there would be a verdict in until maybe the end of the week. It was so eerie. Very quiet, all was boarded up, and there again were National Guard people guarding - against the People. Very sad. Mary Tyler Moore was tossing up her hat in front of a fenced off Dayton's. 

First Avenue was done up in black boards, and featured a red star with George Floyd's name there with all the other luminaries. 

The Irish Bar across the street was locked up tight, and they too were rooting for George Floyd. 

I love that there are always people who try to brighten things up, and one boarded up street had a row of crocheted flowers all along that added a bit of cheer into a very heavy atmosphere. 

Nicollet Mall was on lockdown, but there too someone had come along to make it a little more beautiful amidst the chaos. 

Over at the Hennepin County Government Center, where the trial had been held, reporters lined the streets with their news cameras, but not very many.

The plaza in front of the Government Center had a few people milling around, being interviewed by out of town media, holding signs in support of George Floyd, and generally just waiting around for something to happen. Feeling a little bit helpless.

I chatted with some guys there in a car with Daunte Wright signs on it (the next police murder victim we have to fight for justice for, after he was unbelievably murdered during the trial just ten miles away!), and they were cautiously optimistic that there would be a guilty verdict. That was hard to hope for when you looked around at all the things being done to protect buildings and property from people that would be rightfully upset with any other verdict. I was truly and deeply afraid for the city that I grew up in, that it might never recover from such a blatant injustice. 

Suddenly there were murmurs going through the little cluster of reporters that a verdict had come in and might be read in the next hour! WHAT?! As I have been torn the entire year, I was again torn at staying put to see what happened, or going home because I'm the main caregiver to both my Mom and brother right now, and if something went really bad, I really can't risk something happening to me that I can avoid. TOUGH ONE for me, who likes to be in the mix all the time, but this was HISTORY. I headed home as fast as I could. 

The news was already on, and Mom and I sat on the edges of our seats. The spot where I had just been standing at the Government Center was now filled with thousands of hopeful and nervous Minnesotans. At just after four pm, the jerk Judge (didn't like him the whole time, very condescending and power tripping) took the mic, and began reading the counts. I was sweating, shaking, already in tears. When I heard the first "GUILTY", I jumped up and screamed. The second "GUILTY" had me sliding down to my knees. The third "GUILTY!" collapsed me into heaving sobs of relief and bittersweet happiness. That FOR ONCE justice had been served, but that didn't bring back the life of George Floyd for his family. It didn't convict Daunte Wright's murderer, or all the other many, many victims of police murder and brutality - but it did FINALLY show accountability in law enforcement, and the hint of better days ahead for everyone - IF we keep all the feet to the fire. And we WILL. I needed to get back out there immediately, for now I knew that there would be no danger - only my People rejoicing. 

My phone was almost dead and texts started flying in as the rest of the country heard the good news too. I knew George Floyd Square would be the place to go, but I had to charge my phone! I paced around and watched the joy and tears on the news until I had enough juice to go capture it for myself and all of the people around the world that I knew were sharing in our relief and elation. 

I had to park a few blocks away, but you could hear the celebration easily from there. Everyone was masked up but smiling with their eyes. Passing by people on the way to George Floyd Square (38th and Chicago), we'd say things like, "Happy day!" and it really, really was. 

It got louder as I got closer to the Square, and more and more people were arriving in droves. Old folks in wheelchairs, hyper elated teenagers, little babies strapped to their parents' chests, strollers, white kids holding "Black Lives Matter" signs ... it was the scene of humanity we all hope for, united in their same cause. It was beautiful. 

There were speeches in the middle of the sea of humanity, all met with thunderous applause and cheers. Chants went up for George Floyd, and it was way better this time, because we knew that George DID get justice, at least in the sense that his murderer will PAY. 

Grills were being fired up, and food handed out to any and all who needed or wanted it. This was the street party we'd all been waiting for - and there was one just as big happening at the same time downtown! I imagine (and hope) it was happening in every household all over the city too. Pure ecstasy in the eyes of all that you met. It was an extra special day that I'll never forget, and was so happy to be a part of. We had WORKED for it.

Of course there remains much to do. The awful MPD must be reformed, but I'm doubtful it can, so it may have to be reimagined as a peacekeeping force of some kind, because it ain't working. We have to get justice for all of the other victims of police murder. We have to prevent these murders from ever happening in the first place. We have to examine the racist tendencies of normal, every day people too, because their tolerance is how this injustice has persisted for so long. 

 

As happy as I was yesterday, I was also a little bit sad, because I was alone, as I have been for most of the actions around the George Floyd murder for the last almost year. I would have no problem finding marching buddies in L.A., but here I almost never could. People aren't comfortable talking about race things here that much, and I can't stop talking about it. I had childhood friends mad at me for being on the 35W Bridge marching when that psycho in the Semi truck came barreling through. Not concerned about me, but thinking I was a dumbass for being there. I've had some say "I donate" or whatever, because they can't bring themselves to be out in the streets showing up for justice. It's been really sad and hard for me, but not enough to stop me from showing up. And I'm a much richer, much better person for it, and hold out hope that they will join me one day. Change is coming, and you'd better be ready for it. 

I have met so many good people, out doing the work, out fighting the fight, out making the art (the ART! SO much of it - they all deserve their own story), out getting into the "Good Trouble". I don't think anyone ever imagined that real change in systemic police brutality and systemic racism would come in a city like Minneapolis, but why not? It IS happening, and it all kind of makes more sense to me now as to why I'm still here (aside from the pandemic, that is).

Today is the five year anniversary of Prince's death, and I wouldn't be surprised if there might have been some divine intervention in play. Prince was all about social justice and equal rights, and he certainly would not want to see his city burn - which it definitely would have. It's a better day in Minneapolis today - and also in the whole world. Now we all know that police WILL be held accountable. We know that people from all walks of life will stand with each other in solidarity in the face of outright evil. And we all did this together. Don't forget that this would all have just been another little incident swept under the dirty police carpet if now for the bravery of Darnella Frazier, the true hero of this whole story. And now we must all be Darnella Frazier. Speaking up, filming, whatever it takes to be sure that we put an end to systemic racism once and for all. It's not that hard to love, and I for one am not threatened by melanin. No one should be. C'mon. It's 2021. Time to grow up, America. 

The sun began to set on this historic day, but the party at 38th and Chicago showed no signs of stopping, as a brass band led a kind of second line around the square. At this point I realized that I had forgotten to eat anything the entire day, and was about to faint from starvation - and emotion.

I walked back to the car, raising my fist to all who passed, and getting one back every time. This time HAD been different. We HAD gotten some sense of justice for George Floyd and his family. And we knew that we could do it again. And WILL.

So much love to all of Minneapolis, and all around the world who joined together in this struggle to make better days ahead for ALL people. As much as we know there is still to do, I fell into an exhausted sleep with a smile on my face, ready to get up and get going again today. 

When there is justice, there IS peace. But there is also actual, tangible joy, and we all felt it here in Minneapolis on April 20, 2021. Praise JAH! 

 

 

Terry Willis Completes 1K Mile March At George Floyd Memorial - One Man, Two Feet!

Terry Willis completed his one thousand mile walk from his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama to the site of George Floyd's murder by police at 38th and Chicago in Minneapolis yesterday afternoon, and was met by throngs of supporters who had followed him along his arduous journey.

After some delays due to weather and body recovery, Willis joined a waiting group at the Mall of America in Bloomington. Marchers held signs and wore t-shirts (and almost every respectful citizen was wearing a mask!) in support and cheered Willis on for the last seven miles of his trek to gain awareness for change, justice, and equality.

As there had been threats to Willis along the way, the organizers never gave out his exact location, so it was a bit of sleuthing to find out where they would exactly be to join the march if you hadn't been at MOA on time (like me). I was driving back from getting our morning coffee when I saw people sitting on the curbs of 12th Avenue in Richfield, and a police presence at my old middle school on 70th and 12th.

I raced home to get my brother and we raced back just in time to join Willis for his march through Richfield. I was so proud to be standing up for social justice and systemic change in my hometown, marching down 12th and up 66th to Portland, with supportive honks from backed up cars and shouts of solidarity from the people lining the streets. There's an old spirit chant that went "We're from Richfield, couldn't be prouder, if you can't hear us, we'll yell a little louder!" - and that's what it felt like marching alongside this inspirational man whose story I'd been following since his walk began on June 2nd in Alabama. (This feeling would go away in the evening - read to the end).

"Say his name!" "GEORGE FLOYD!" and "One Man! TWO FEET!" were a couple of the chants along the way, and the day could not have been more beautiful for a walk for social justice. Willis kept an amazingly fast pace going, for a man who had been walking across the entire country. Also impressive was the way he was so concerned about everyone else. He darted around in the crowd, asking if people had water, giving hugs to people that got emotional in his embrace, as they could feel the gravity of what he had endeavored to do, and now he was real and in their arms. Pretty powerful stuff.

When the group turned toward Minneapolis, Paul and I raced back to our car, went home and grabbed our Mom, and took her to do a drive-by farewell to the Pastor of her church, Nokomis Heights Lutheran, who was having a last day picnic there at 53rd and 10th. We drove by and waved our good wishes, and then saw that the Willis march was going by two blocks away at Chicago Avenue!

We cheered them on for a couple of blocks, (and were a little surprised to see a guy open-carrying a machine gun, but then there had been credible threats, so ... sigh. This world.) then drove to 38th and Chicago to the George Floyd Memorial where Willis was to finish his long journey.

The intersection was packed with people, so we tried to stay on the outskirts because of Mom and the pandemic, and people were very respectful about giving she and her wheelchair the space she needed. The grills were cranked up with long lines for the free fare, and the usual angels were there passing out bottles of water on this hot day. The flowers had been refreshed after the storm the night before, and it was once again a beautiful scene of respect and community coming together as one in the name of equality and justice. That's just honestly what it feels like every time you're there, and I hope all Twin Cities residents have been by now. It's something else.

It didn't take long until we saw the glimmer and heard the din in the distance of the Willis march approaching. More and more people poured into the streets as the march passed into the intersection, and more than a few tears were shed when Willis finally approached the very spot where George Floyd had been so ruthlessly killed by monsters meant to protect us. Out of breath somewhat himself, the moment held a whole lot of weight when Willis was now at the destination that had been his focus. Cheers erupted, and then went silent as a trumpeter climbed up above everyone and played "Lift Every Voice And Sing", and another emotional memory was made.

Families stood together, friends stood side by side, mothers pushed their children in strollers, we pushed our Mom in her wheelchair, and everyone there knelt together as one with fists raised in silence as Terry Willis knelt as long as he could after such a long and hard physical feat. More cheers filled the blue skies then, as Willis took the mic to address the crowd ...

Speaking to how he was just a regular guy, not a celebrity (though he was certainly treated like one, deservedly), and he just saw something terrible that he was compelled to do something about, so he set out as one man, two feet and walked for change. Any one of us could do the same, and any one of us can do SOMETHING in our own lives to effect change. My own nearly 80 year old (birthday next week!) Mom is right now in the living room reading "How To Be An Anti-Racist" - THAT is something to effect change, because then she'll talk about it with her 80+ year old posse, and they begin to think differently, and that HELPS.

Once Willis thanked the crowd, he was eager to get home to his own family and his own bed, and the intersection at 38th and Chicago turned once again into the street party that it has been on most days since George Floyd lost his life there. We now know that this time WILL be different, and that systemic change is ACTUALLY in the works. You can feel it.

My family left to get Mom home as we are a bit leery about having her out in the mix at this stage of nobody knowing what's up with this pandemic, but we were all so happy to have been there together to see this historic and triumphant feat completed by Mr. Willis, and once again by surrounded by so much good will and positivity for a better world. We were buzzing about it all day after, and I thought I'd share the Richfield part on the "I Grew Up In Richfield" Facebook page so people could see how cool it had been in our hometown that day. I was certainly not prepared for the bigotry and vitriol that followed, and I'm still reeling from it. "That's BS!" "George Floyd was a thief!" "This kind of thing doesn't belong on this page!" were some of the awful comments in reaction to a short video of their community members marching along with a man who had just completed a huge, triumphant personal victory that was also global news. And now their backwards behavior will now also be a part of this global story. Willis had people cheering him on via his Facebook and Instagram feeds from around the world ... but Richfield, Minnesota residents didn't want to hear about it on their community page. UNREAL. I'm crushed. I've been back here taking care of my Mom for a year now, and I know I've been living in the Venice, California bubble for a long time, but I never thought there would be such racism in my now very diverse hometown. THEN I see that my post had been taken down, due to so many complaints about a Black man marching through Richfield for social justice. I'm disgusted, and of course, will no longer have my name associated with that intolerant page. The Administrator woman didn't bother to send me a message, but she sent Paul one for his post that said it was for people who grew up in Richfield, not politics. Well, guess what, lady? People are STILL growing up in Richfield, and it's sad that the one they're growing up in is like this, especially when old, white Spartans are hardly in the majority in town anymore.

I don't want to end on a negative note to what was such a positive and beautiful day, so I'll just say to every complainer on the Richfield page - I hope you can manage to GROW, because your way of thinking is past its expiration date. To Terry Willis and all of his supporters - WOW! POWERFUL! What a feat! CONGRATULATIONS! LOVE! SOLIDARITY! UNITY! We WILL make the change this country so clearly, so desperately needs. We have to.

ONE LOVE, EVERYBODY! Even you, old, white Spartans. May you join us in 2020 someday.

Happy Juneteenth National Holiday!

Today we all celebrate Juneteenth, the end of slavery in the United States! Well, not the real end, because it took two and a half years for the news to get to the entire country finally on June 19, 1865. And also not the real end, because Black Lives in America often still feel enslaved because of the awful treatment they continue to be subjected to - and that will no longer be tolerated in this nation.

In the weeks since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of brutal Minneapolis Police Officers (don't you wish the news would call that like it is? Instead of "when George Floyd died in police custody", or however else they try to lighten it up with), there have been actions in support of Black Lives every day, and they will continue until the police brutality stops (which they just can't seem to bring themselves to do - STILL), and there is justice and equality for ALL citizens. They just will. And should.

In addition to the marching and protesting that we simply can't let up on, it has also been a time for reflection and learning. There are so many resources available on how to be an Anti-Racist, that there really is no excuse not to.

There are several great films that I have watched in the last couple of weeks that really give insight as to what our Black brothers and sisters have been - and ARE - dealing with forever, and as to what absolutely must change. Start with 13th on Netflix.

After that MUST watch, watch Blindspotting. A harrowing story of what it feels like to be a Black man just going about the business of his own life, and being terrified about being killed by Police every single day. It's so tense, and I felt sick to my stomach that my friends have had to feel like this their entire lives. We all have to work together to bring them the relief that they are FREE and can live like they are.

I watched Seberg on Amazon last night, about the actress Jean Seberg, who became a star of the French New Wave, but was a country girl from Iowa who strongly supported The Black Panthers - and had her life completely ruined as punishment by our garbage government for doing so. I really identified with her, because I'm very outspoken about my feelings about the overt racism in this country - and just got out of Twitter Jail for it (as Trump is allowed to spew his hate and disinformation freely - disgusting). That won't deter me - nothing will. And Jean was the same way. Please give it a watch as you look for inspiration on how to be an ally.

Spike Lee's new joint Da 5 Bloods on Netflix isn't nearly a perfect film, but it does shed some light on what it was like to be a Black soldier in Vietnam, and how the U.S. Armed Forces put them on the front lines to die first, as they were considered expendable. Man, we sure have a lot of work to do to make up to our Black and Brown citizens for the horrors this country has put them through, even as they have fought to protect it. Shameful, and a permanent scar on our nation's face.

I'm halfway through reading Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, a beautifully written story about a young slave boy and the adventures of his life. Slavery is so disgusting, and when you read about the daily horrors inflicted on these people, you wonder how in the world they could ever even begin to forgive this country ... so the very least we can do - THE VERY LEAST - is to put an end to them being murdered by Police in our modern world. Like, it's just beyond shocking to me that it STILL happens - but then it isn't either.

We've clearly got so much work cut out for us, as reading any comment section on any post about this topic clearly shows. Some people - usually with a MAGA type profile picture - are so backwards thinking and so uneducated about life in 2020 that you almost want to give up on them - but we can't. We need them to STOP IT TOO. The daily videos of privileged white people still trying to oppress Black lives are so sad and embarrassing ... but I have to believe they're still acting out because they know their days are numbered and their pathetic little outbursts are the last gasps of a dying breed. They have to be.

And we ALL have to be advocates. Gone are the days when someone would say something on the edge of being racist and everyone just kind of moves on. That shit needs to be called out WHEN it happens, and made clear that YOU won't put up with it. Consider this fair warning that if anything like that is uttered in my presence, you will be made to feel like the gross dumbass you are. And you won't soon forget it. If that means I get less invites from people that like to be racist, cool with me. Bye.

I'm going to celebrate every Juneteenth with music by Black artists, viewing entertainment by Black artists, cooking from Black restaurants, and supporting all Black businesses. Today I went to the Calhoun Square (Bde Maka Ska Square?) in Uptown Minneapolis to see all of the murals that have gone up there since the murder of George Floyd by brutal Minneapolis Police Officers (maybe if we say it enough it will sink in). They are wonderful - and it would be great if they could be permanent.

In the three and a half weeks since George Floyd's murder at the hands of the murdering MPD, I have felt a unity in this city - and in this WORLD - that I've never felt before. Sane and compassionate people of all races and styles have all come together to insist that Justice is served for all Black Lives, and to insist that the days of ALL being treated EQUALLY is HERE. It's HERE. We're living it in real time, and it's something spectacular to behold.

We must not let up. We must not give in. We must stay united. And we must live with LOVE - for ALL. C'mon, Everybody! Once things are great for everyone, they really WILL be great. But not until then. To KNOW Justice -  is to KNOW Peace.

Please, as a way to celebrate and honor Black Lives, PLEASE remember to LOVE, not HATE (as my friend's daughter, Lucy, painted here!)  Just start there. With empathy.

Happy Juneteenth, America!!!