In St. Paul and Minneapolis, hundreds join in second night of protests

Protesters took to the streets for a second night Thursday to decry the release of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd on May 25.

The rallies — one in St. Paul, one in Minneapolis — came on the heels of a march Wednesday night in south Minneapolis that ended when 51 people were arrested near the Police Department's Fifth Precinct headquarters.

As of 10:15 p.m. Thursday, the rallies appeared to have wrapped up, and no one had been arrested.

At the St. Paul event, dubbed the Secret March, hundreds of people, including family members of Minnesotans killed by police, marched down University Avenue to the State Capitol.

The march was organized by the Justice Squad, Visual Black Justice, Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence and the 10K Foundation.

Former NBA player Royce White, a march organizer,said its message was "that the state has human lives, deaths, murders, on their hands, and this is a symbol of the state's authority here in Minnesota. And so we brought our sorrows and pains to their doorsteps to leave."

The marchers carried signs bearing the names of 100 people killed by police in Minnesota, along with five coffins and a sign that said, "Who will be next?"

"That's the feeling amongst the people right now," said White. "Obviously we are extremely dissatisfied with the decision to release Derek Chauvin on bond."

In Minneapolis, several hundred people gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center for a protest organized by the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Black Lives Matter Minnesota and other activist organizations.

Standing on the center's steps, speakers called for Chauvin to be taken back into custody as Aztec dancers from Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli circled two drum players.

The crowd chanted, "Say his name! George Floyd!" and "No justice, no peace!"

Chauvin shouldn't have been given the option of bail, the protesters said. They also decried the arrests of people involved in protests over Floyd's death over the past few months.

After the rally, the protesters marched around downtown Minneapolis, chanting, "Black power!" and "Native lives and trans lives, they matter here!"

Chauvin left Oak Park Heights prison Wednesday after posting bail on a $1 million bond. In anticipation of unrest, Gov. Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard and mobilized 100 State Patrol troopers and 75 Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officers to help local law enforcement.

Chauvin, who has been fired, was initially booked into the Ramsey County jail after being charged and then moved to the state prison. He is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

On Wednesday evening, about 300 people marched from the site where Floyd died a few blocks north and then back. Some of the marchers made their way to the Fifth Precinct, where many of the 51 arrests took place.

Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said 49 of the arrests were for misdemeanor offenses. The Hennepin County jail log showed many were cited for unlawful assembly. One person was arrested for fourth-degree assault and one other on a felony warrant.

The state Department of Public Safety said 24 of the overall arrests were made by the State Patrol and another 10 by DNR officers.

matt.mckinney@startribune.com 612-673-7329

erin.adler@startribune.com 612-673-1781

Families of those killed by police marched with hundreds of supporters in "The Secret March" down University Avenue to the Capitol in St. Paul. There they dropped several effigies of dead bodies and coffins along with a list of demands.
Families of those killed by police marched with hundreds of supporters to the Capitol in St. Paul on Thursday night. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Demonstrators chanted outside the 1st Precinct office in downtown Minneapolis. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com Demonstrators took to the streets of Minneapolis Thursday night, October 8, 2020, angry that Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis Police officer charged with murdering George Floyd on Memorial Day, posted a $1 million bond Wednesday and was released. Gov. Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard Wednesday.
Protesters angry that Derek Chauvin is out on bail chanted outside the First Precinct in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
A proteter listened to speakers outside Hennepin County Government Center while holding up a sign, a day after the release of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis Police officer charged with murdering George Floyd.
A protester listened to speakers outside Hennepin County Government Center on Thursday, a day after the release of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd., ahead of trial. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Diamond Reynolds, former fiancé of Philando Castile, spoke during "The Secret March" in St. Paul.
Diamond Reynolds, who was engaged to Philando Castile, spoke during Thursday night's march in St. Paul. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
demonstrators listened to speakers on the plaza of Hennepin County Government Center.
Demonstrators listened to speakers on the plaza of Hennepin County Government Center as part of Thursday's protest in Minneapolis. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writers

Paul Walsh

Reporter

Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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Abby Simons

Team Leader

Abby Simons is the Star Tribune’s Public Safety Editor. Her team covers crime and courts across the metro. She joined the Star Tribune in 2008 and previously reported on crime, courts and politics.

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Erin Adler

Reporter

Erin Adler is a suburban reporter covering Dakota and Scott counties for the Star Tribune, working breaking news shifts on Sundays. She previously spent three years covering K-12 education in the south metro and five months covering Carver County.

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Matt McKinney

Reporter

Matt McKinney is a reporter on the Star Tribune's state team. In 15 years at the Star Tribune, he has covered business, agriculture and crime. 

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