January 1, SPECIAL EDITION: Minneapolis Burning

Rioters Set Minneapolis Police Station Afire

(Minneapolis Star Tribune) – Cheering protesters torched a Minneapolis police station Thursday that the department was forced to abandon as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St. Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the U.S over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck.

A police spokesman confirmed late Thursday that staff had evacuated the 3rd Precinct station, the focus o many of the protests, “in the interest of the safety of our personnel” shortly after 10 p.m. Livestream video showed the protesters entering the building, where fire alarms blared and sprinklers ran as blazes were set.

Protesters could be seen setting fire to a Minneapolis Police Department jacket and cheering.

Read more here

You can watch KSTP’s live video here.

You can follow the real-time updates on CNN here.

Police Across US Speak Out Against Minneapolis Custody Death

(AP) — Murder.Brutality. Reprehensible.Indefensible. Police nationwide, in unequivocal and unprecedented language, have condemned the actions of Minneapolis police in the custody death of a handcuffed black man who cried for help as an officer knelt on his neck, pinning him to the pavement for at least eight minutes.

But some civil rights advocates say their denunciations are empty words without meaningful reform behind them

Authorities say George Floyd was detained Monday because he matched the description of someone who tried to pay with a counterfeit bill at a convenience store, and the 46-year-old resisted arrest. A bystander’s disturbing video shows Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on Floyd’s neck, even as Floyd begs for air and slowly stops talking and moving.

“There is no need to see more video,” Chattanooga, Tennessee, Police Chief David Roddy tweeted Wednesday. “There’s no need to wait to see how ‘it plays out’. There is no need to put a knee on someone’s neck for NINE minutes. There IS a need to DO something. If you wear a badge and you don’t have an issue with this … turn it in.”

Learn more here

Who was George Floyd? Family, friends, Coworkers Remember ‘Loving Spirit’

(FOX 9) – George Floyd was known as a father, friend and a well-liked coworker at several businesses in Minneapolis and now his friends don’t want his life to be lost in vain.

Loved ones of Floyd shared more about the type of person he was on TMZ Wednesday afternoon. His brother and cousin spoke from their home in Houston, Texas and were emotional recalling the kind nature of the 46-year-old.

“He was very loving,” said Tera Brown, his cousin. “Everybody loved him. You wouldn’t be able to find a single person who knew him who didn’t love him and wouldn’t tell you about his gentle spirit, his loving spirit.”

Family and friends say Floyd moved to Minneapolis to start a better life. He worked security at one of the Salvation Army’s shelters in 2017. Most recently, he worked security at Conga Latin Bistro and his coworkers say he became a close friend.

“A friend that was always available to work, always helps, always helped with cleaning up, we loved him a lot,” said the owner of Conga. “He had good customer service.”

Learn more about George Floyd here