Activists controlling the autonomous zone at George Floyd Square at East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis have posted notices at the entrance with instructions for visitors that include a section on rules for white people entering the “sacred space” where Floyd died while resisting arrest on May 25 last year. Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on Tuesday in Floyd’s death on counts of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The posted rules “For White people in particular”:
Decenter yourself and come to listen, learn, mourn, and witness. Remember you are here to support, not to be supported.
Be mindful of whether your volume, pace, and movements are supporting or undermining your efforts to decenter yourself.
Seek to contribute to the energy of the space, rather than drain it. Bring your own process to other white folks so that you will not harm BIPOC.
Consider if you want or need to take photos and post them. Do not take photos of people without their consent.
If you witness white folks doing problematic things, speak up with compassion to take the burden of off (sic) Black folks and our siblings of color whenever appropriate. Seek to engage rather than escalate, so that it can be a learning moment rather than a disruption.
Photos of the signs were posted by reporters including Matt Finn of Fox News (image seen above) and Jorge Ventura with the Daily Caller.
White people about to enter George Floyd square are given special instructions pic.twitter.com/3gzpwqUmtS
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) April 21, 2021
Walking into George Floyd Square pic.twitter.com/jIDzBNicVw
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) April 21, 2021
Well, at least they used a capital W for White people (but only once).