As the pretrial proceedings for the Derek Chauvin case continue, Minneapolis business owners are preparing for the potential of more street violence this spring. In December, the Minneapolis City Council ended its ban on security shutters, and store owners are racing to put them up.
George Floyd trial will certainly lead to more riots
“If we didn’t have this kind of security, we’d just pack up and leave,” said Dave Hautman, who runs the Franklin-Nicollet Liquor Store, told the Star Tribune. “You can’t afford to keep going down this road. It has just become lawless.”
Franklin-Nicollet Liquor lost more than $250,000 after vandals attacked the store twice, reports the Star Tribune.
Following the death of George Floyd, nearly 1,500 Twin Cities businesses were damaged by vandalism, thefts, and fire, according to the state government. Estimates of the damage exceed $500,000,000.
Minneapolis braces for more BLM terrorism
A 14th juror was selected in former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial on Monday, one week before opening arguments are scheduled to begin on March 29. The court initially called for 12 jurors and at least two alternates; it could now add additional jurors to the panel in case anyone drops out.
Chauvin, who is White, is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter following the death of George Floyd, who was Black. Video recordings showed that Floyd was held facedown on the asphalt — and that Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
The jury reflects a range of ethnicities, although slightly over half of the jurors have been described in court as White.
“Among the 14 seated, there are three Black men, including two who are immigrants; one Black woman; two women who identify as multiracial; two White men; and six White women,” Minnesota Public Radio reports.
The trial is expected to last at least four weeks. The two alternate jurors won’t know of their status until the panel heads to the deliberation phase.