80 join north Minneapolis protest of Blevins shooting

"This has to stop," said his brother, Joseph Blevins, who was among the family members who spoke.

June 29, 2018 at 2:34AM

A new chant rose up as protesters, incensed by Saturday's fatal shooting of Thurman Junior Blevins by Minneapolis police, once again took to the streets Thursday night in north Minneapolis.

"Six shots in the back! How you justify that!" was a new slogan that joined the more familiar refrains.

A half dozen family members of Blevins, 31, spoke to a crowd of about 80 people gathered on a humid evening in the parking lot of the Cub Foods store at 701 W. Broadway.

"He was a good young man," said Thurman's aunt, Jeanette Blevins of Minneapolis. "He participated in a lot of youth programs when he was young. I have a picture of him at home. I'm sorry that this happened to him. I'm going to miss him."

Blevins was killed Saturday in the Camden neighborhood, after police say someone reported a man matching his description walking down the street, firing a 9-millimeter handgun into the ground and the air.

The days since have spawned competing narratives. Police have said Blevins was armed when he encountered the officers. His family members and several witnesses have said he had a bottle in his hands.

Blevins' older brother, Joseph Blevins, flew to Minneapolis from his home in Portland, Ore., to join the rest of his family in mourning.

"He could make anybody smile," he said of Thurman. "I'm glad he was in my life. I hope this is something the community and the rest of the world sees. This has to stop. We're going to keep fighting till the fight is done and we've won."

Blevins, who went by "Junior" or "Jun," "was a good dude," said his older sister, Darlynn Blevins. "That was my heart right there."

Others spoke, too, about others shot and killed by police in the past few years.

Corydon Nilsson, a founder member of the New North, one of several groups that organized the protest, said he and his supporters will be "out here for anybody abused by the police, like Thurman. How they did him was so dirty. They want to sweep this under the rug. They want this to go away."

The group eventually marched to the bridge over Interstate 94, then turned and marched in the opposite direction, returning to the Cub parking lot about 9:15 p.m.

Thurman Blevins' brother, Joseph Blevins, walked with his arm around his cousin, Melinda Blevins, as they walked on W. Broadway Ave. with others to honor Thurman Thursday evening. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com A rally and then a Peace Walk in memory of Thurman Blevins was organized by a several organizations and held on W. Broadway Ave. Thursday evening, June 28, 2018 in Minneapolis. After some tributes by members of Blevins family and some speeches by activists, the group w
Thurman Blevins' brother, Joseph Blevins, walked with his arm around his cousin, Melinda Blevins, as they walked on W. Broadway with others to honor Thurman on Thursday night. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writer

Pat Pheifer

Reporter

See More

More from Minneapolis

card image

From small businesses to giants like Target, retailers are benefitting from the $10 billion industry for South Korean pop music, including its revival of physical album sales.