2020–2022 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 2020–2023 Minneapolis–Saint Paul Racial Unrest
Part of 2020–2023 United States racial unrest
Young people march in downtown Minneapolis on May 28, 2020. This was three days after the murder of George Floyd.
Date	May 26, 2020 – May 2, 2023 (2 years, 11 months, 1 week and 5 days)
Location	Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Caused by	People reacted to the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department. People reacted to other deaths caused by police officers. Institutional racism against African Americans (unfair treatment built into systems). Differences in wealth, race, and social standing.
Goals	To get justice for George Floyd and others hurt by police actions. To stop police brutality (when police use too much force). To fix old racial injustice (unfairness based on race).
Methods	Protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience (peaceful refusal to obey laws), civil resistance, riots

In the early 2020s, the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota saw many public events. These included peaceful protests and some riots. People were speaking out against systemic racism. This means unfair treatment built into systems, especially towards Black Americans. A big part of this was about police actions. These events started after the murder of George Floyd. He was a Black man who died while a white police officer held him down on May 25, 2020.

Many protests after George Floyd's death were peaceful. However, Minneapolis and Saint Paul also had widespread riots. There was looting and damage to buildings over three nights in May 2020. This caused about $500 million in damage. It was one of the most damaging periods of unrest in U.S. history. These local protests also helped start a global protest movement. People around the world spoke out about police brutality and racial fairness. These events also changed local rules, the economy, and how people in the area felt.

People kept protesting after Floyd's death. They wanted justice for him. They also called for bigger changes to fix structural racism in Minnesota. This means unfairness built into how society works. Many of these protests were part of the larger Black Lives Matter movement. Some events became violent, which caused debate. But many people from different backgrounds came together. They protested against what they saw as normal killings of innocent Black people.

What Happened in Minneapolis and Saint Paul?

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, often called the Twin Cities, saw many protests. These events happened in the early 2020s. People were upset about how Black Americans were treated. They especially focused on police actions.

Why Did Protests Start?

The main reason for the protests was the death of George Floyd. He died on May 25, 2020. A police officer held him down for a long time. This event made many people angry and sad. They felt it showed a bigger problem. This problem was systemic racism and police brutality. Systemic racism means unfairness that is built into laws and systems. Police brutality means when police use too much force.

What Were the Protests Like?

Many protests were peaceful. People marched, held signs, and spoke out. They wanted justice for George Floyd. They also wanted an end to police brutality. But some events turned into riots. There was looting and property damage. This happened over three nights in May 2020. It caused a lot of damage, about $500 million. This was one of the most costly periods of unrest in U.S. history.

How Did the Protests Spread?

The protests in Minneapolis and Saint Paul quickly spread. People around the world joined in. This became a global movement. People everywhere talked about racial justice. They also talked about how police treat people.

What Was the Impact of the Unrest?

The events in the Twin Cities had a big impact. They led to changes in local rules. They also affected the economy. And they changed how people in the community felt.

How Did Policies Change?

After the protests, leaders in Minnesota looked at police rules. They also looked at laws about racial fairness. People wanted to make sure such events would not happen again. They wanted to fix unfair systems.

What About the Community?

The protests brought many people together. They spoke out against unfairness. They wanted to make their community better. The events also made people think more about racial justice. They thought about how different groups are treated.