The George Floyd Memorial is located at Chicago Ave and 38th Street in Minneapolis. It is the site where George Floyd breathed his last breath. Since his death, many tributes of sculpture, poetry, murals, flowers, and gifts have adorned this intersection.
If you live near Minneapolis, stop reading this, and set up a time to spend an hour or two at the memorial.
This post is for people who are too far away to visit, or for those who, due to COVID-19 or other concerns, find it unwise to visit. This post consists of some photos I took at the memorial and I will let them speak for themselves.
Gentle Suggestions on How to Proceed
Before you look at and read these photos, gently reflect on the truth that like you, all people and creatures want to experience peace, health, happiness, dignity, safety, respect, and security for themselves and their loved ones.
Please review the photos slowly in a calm, quiet, meditative manner. Open your heart to their messages and be curious as to how they land for you emotionally. Thank you.
Creating the Beloved Community
Racist conditioning is deep in our country, and it will take all people of goodwill working together to make progress and create Beloved Community where all people, animals, and the natural world can thrive. Here are some ideas on how you can get involved to overcome structural racism.
1. Financially support and join one or more organizations working for equality, civil rights, And/or structural changes to end systemic racism, and police reform/abolition.
This list of local (Twin Cities) groups was compiled by Reclaim the Block who have been heavily involved in organizing in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s murder. They compiled this list to “lift up” various groups providing necessary services to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities in the Twin Cities.
African Career, Education, and Resource (ACER) - A nonprofit organization that engages African immigrants living in the north and northwest suburbs of Minneapolis.
Al Maa'uun - Al Maa'uun is a nonprofit with deep roots in North Minneapolis, serving thousands of households each year with food and critical supplies.
Black Immigrant Collective - The Black Immigrant Collective amplifies and makes visible the voices of Black immigrants in Minnesota.
Black Women Speak - Gathering Black Women in Minnesota to share our experiences in order to heal, find joy and move toward liberation on our own terms!
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha - CTUL is a worker-led organization where workers organize, educate and empower each other to fight for a voice in their workplaces and in their communities.
Cities Care Collective - South-Minneapolis based rad worker-owned childcare co-op working to provide easy access childcare by and for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and queer organizers and families.
Division of Indian Work - Division of Indian Work’s mission is to support and strengthen urban American Indian people through culturally-based education, traditional healing approaches, and leadership development. We provide many services to the community but the most relevant one right now is our food shelf.
Du Nord Riot Recovery Fund - Du Nord Craft Spirits is a Black-owned distillery with a building that was damaged. They’ve “received a tidal wave of love and support from across the nation and many have asked how they can help… Therefore, Du Nord is establishing this fund to support black and brown companies affected by the riots.”
Femme Empowerment Project- Venmo @femmeempowermentproject. Skill shares and discussions led by and for QTIIBPOC femmes in the twin cities. Creating space for cultural resiliency, healing and ancestral wisdom. Currently organizing supplies and medic trainings.
Isuroon - Isuroon is a grassroots nonprofit organization working to promote the well-being and empowerment of Somali women in Minnesota and beyond.
Joyce Preschool - emergency fund for families who had to evacuate their homes near Lake Street last week, and who are now coming back to a devastated neighborhood with no grocery stores within walking distance.
Lake Street East African Worker Recovery Fund - Business owners have raised millions to rebuild, but workers have no recourse until then. The Awood Center is raising money to provide aid to hundreds of workers until they can return to their jobs.
Latino Community on Lake Street - fundraiser for Latinx owned businesses on Lake Street.
Little Earth Residents Association - Food and safety needs for residents of Little Earth of United Tribes.
Migizi Communications - MIGIZI Communications advances a message of success, well-being and justice for the American Indian community. Support them rebuilding after fire.
Minnesota Healing Justice Network - We provide a supportive professional community and mutual aid network for wellness and healing justice practitioners who also identify as IBPOC (indigenous, black, or people of color).
New Mindsets, New Media, New Leaders, and Narratives (N4) - youth-led organization that applies community mobilization to heal and transform society. We combat social stigmas related to race, gender, culture, intelligence, and health utilizing artistry and activism.
Northside business support - support businesses on Minneapolis’s Northside that have been impacted by recent demonstrations.
Oasis of Love - A Northside organization that was established to help combat the challenges of domestic violence.
Pimento Relief Fund - We’re partnering with Pimento to provide black business without insurance relief after white supremacists set them on fire during the protests.
Powwow Grounds - send via paypal to angelswann2021@gmail.com - Native-run cafe, currently providing meals to elders, protectors and community, purchasing medical supplies, fire supplies, cooking supplies.
PPNA - Renters Support Fund - operated by the Minneapolis Renters' Coalition, a group of residents, community organizations, and neighborhood organizations committed to supporting renters in our community.
Southside Harm Reduction- Southside Harm Reduction Services works within a harm reduction framework to promote the human rights to health, safety, autonomy, and agency among people who use substances.
Spiral Collective - A volunteer full-spectrum reproductive options and support group comprised of doulas, birth-workers, and passionate reproductive justice advocates. based in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, occupied Dakhóta territories.
Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar- A coalition formed after the murder of Jamar Clark by MPD to continue the work and gather people around the fight against police crimes. TCCJ4J has been active on the frontlines after the murder of George Floyd.
Unicorn Riot - A decentralized media organization that has been live-streaming uprisings
Until We Are All Free - Non-profit organization working towards the liberation of incarcerated men and women and help them fulfill their roles as human beings in society, contributors to art, financial liberation, community development, culture ambassadors, mothers.
West Broadway Business and Area Coalition - WBC in partnership with Northside Funders Group will direct all donations to support Northside businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 and the recent uprising.
Women for Political Change - Holistically investing in the leadership and political power of young women and trans & non-binary individuals throughout Minnesota.
2. Like, follow, or join one or more of the above organization’s social media accounts or email lists and read their posts and newsletters.
3. Volunteer for one or more of the above organizations.
A message to my white siblings: It is important that we first recognize our ignorance on these issues, and learn about them from those who experience them on a regular basis. That’s why this list emphasizes sacred listening, and learning from those groups who monitor and engage in the struggle to help those harmed by racism. When we do get more active, we must stay humble about all that we don’t know, and let Black people lead, while we follow. Our job is to support their efforts in solidarity, and use our unearned white privilege to aid them in dismantling systemic racism to create justice for all.
4. Regardless of your race, Engage in sacred listening when your Black, Indigenous, or People of Color friends, colleagues, and acquaintances speak about race and racism, or share how something you did or said negatively impacted them.
Sacred listening means you listen with humility and empathy in an effort to understand their feelings and underlying needs, which we all share. Don't offer advice. Don't try to fix them or their situation. If white, don't try to be a white hero. Don't explain how you experienced something similar to them. Don’t interrupt them.
Just listen whole-heartedly. While listening, it is OK to feel discomfort, sadness, guilt, remorse, compassion, and other strong feelings. But whatever you do, please don't let the conversation become about you and your pain. Stay focused on listening with presence, compassion, empathy, and free of judgment.
After they have spoken, you may reflect back to them what they said, starting with a phrase like, “I heard you say…” A great way to reflect is to offer empathy by saying “I hear you are feeling [anger, sadness, overwhelm, frustration, etc.]. It sounds like your need for [safety, equality, dignity, respect, support, etc.] is not being met.”
Or you may request additional information, starting with a phrase such as, “I noticed…”, or “I wonder…”, or “Could you tell me more about…”, or you could simply praise their many wonderful qualities by starting with the phrase “I appreciate…”
5. Reach out to your Black friends, neighbors, and coworkers to ask how they are doing and if there is any way you can support them?
6. Read books by Black authors.
Here are a few to get you started (Thank you to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, MN for helping us compile this list):
• Walking with the Wind by John Lewis.
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.
• Why We Can't Wait by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You – Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
• So You Want To Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
• I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – Austin Channing Brown
• Between the World and Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Killing Rage: Ending Racism – bell hooks
There are many things you can do to help. This list is just to get you started thinking.
Thank you for reading this far. May you and all beings be free of suffering and the root causes of suffering: greed, fear, and falsehood. May you and all beings be safe and protected, peaceful and happy, and healthy and strong. May love and wisdom protect and guide you and all beings.
May you know your deepest essence to be love, peace, compassion, and joy,
Freeman