Minneapolis is already a powderkeg set to explode as millions await the trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd. On Sunday night, activists set into action after 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed by police as he tried to escape an arrest.
Wright, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, was pulled over by police. The suspect was shot after returning to his vehicle to flee, according to police.
“According to a statement from Brooklyn Center Police, officers stopped an individual shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday after determining the driver had an outstanding warrant,” the Washington Post reported. “Police said when they tried to arrest the driver, the driver reentered the vehicle and drove away. An officer fired at the vehicle, striking the driver. Police said the vehicle traveled several blocks before striking another vehicle.”
This lit the fuse that erupted into yet more rioting in a metropolitan area that has been devastated by the Black Lives Matter protests over George Floyd’s death.
“Protesters walked to the Brooklyn Center police headquarters near 67th Avenue North and North Humboldt Avenue and were locked in a standoff with police in riot gear late Sunday night,” the Minnesota Tribune reported. “Officers repeatedly ordered the crowd of about 500 to disperse as protesters chanted Wright’s name and climbed atop the police headquarters sign, by then covered in graffiti.”
“Police used tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets on the crowd,” the Tribune added. “Scattered reports of looting were reported throughout the city.”
Tense altercations between protesters and police could be seen on several witness videos.
Police have set off flash bangs and chemical munitions to clear the crowd out of Brooklyn Center police department parking lot. @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/Xsu5CiyuHg
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) April 12, 2021
The protesters advocated for “justice for Daunte Wright.”
Big protest still underway in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota (close to Minneapolis) where today officers shot & killed 20-year-old #DaunteWright.
People moved to surround the police station & have been met w tear gas, riot cops & and an armored vehicle:https://t.co/32WyVi4GEp
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) April 12, 2021
A CVS pharmacy being looted was reportedly caught on camera. It appears that other stores, such as Foot Locker, were being cased.
Minneapolis @cvspharmacy is now being targeted and looted by rioters https://t.co/uzrlQhN55S
— ELIJAH (@ElijahSchaffer) April 12, 2021
Wal-Mart was not spared either, despite its commitment to left-wing activism.
Wal-Mart is targeted by rioters in Minneapolis after just today meeting with 100 corporate executives discussing how to deal with changing election laws
This is one of many wal-marts destroyed by far left extremist groups such as BLM over the last year https://t.co/TuzhzEghNq
— ELIJAH (@ElijahSchaffer) April 12, 2021
More video of Wal-Mart getting looted.
https://twitter.com/zerosum24/status/1381454282461962245
A shoe store was also looted. (Caution: Graphic language.)
https://twitter.com/zerosum24/status/1381455678582235136
Some of the looters appear to have been arrested.
https://twitter.com/zerosum24/status/1381452872865431552
Tear gas and flash bang grenades were reportedly dispensed to break up the crowd. One protester yelled, “Feels like we at war.”
“Are we at war?!” A protester yells as flash bang grenades explode around us. “Feels like we at war.” pic.twitter.com/lT8xS4HWro
— Liz Sawyer (@ByLizSawyer) April 12, 2021
The police were wearing body cams, so these protesters could have waited for actual justice, which doesn’t entail committing crimes like looting stores and vandalism.
One police officer was injured in the attempted arrest of Wright and was transported to the hospital by helicopter.
Daunte Wright was a father and leaves behind a two-year-old. Below is a picture of the young man who was shot with his child.
https://twitter.com/namzuns/status/1381423953613369350
Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, urged for protesters to remain peaceful. It seems that plea fell on deaf ears.
“All he did was have air fresheners in the car and they told him to get out of the car,” Wright said. “He got out of the car, and his girlfriend said they shot him. He got back in the car, and he drove away and crashed and now he’s dead on the ground since 1:47. … Nobody will tell us anything,” she said. “Nobody will talk to us. … I said please take my son off the ground.”
She also had a message for all of the activists and protesters that they should avoid causing more tragedy in their community.
“I just want people to know that if you get pulled over, make sure you put your hands up and don’t make any sudden moves, and don’t have air fresheners in your car because that’s why he got pulled over,” she said.
“And he was only 20 years old and he didn’t deserve to be shot and killed like this,” Wright added. “And I don’t want all of this, all of this. I just want my baby home. That’s all I want is I want him to be home. I don’t want everybody out here chanting and screaming, yelling, I just want him home, that’s it.”
It is truly heartbreaking that this mother lost her son. But the solution is not to create more heartbreak by ransacking and wrecking the community.
Unfortunately, the Chauvin case is trending towards a potential verdict that may not make Black Lives Matter activists satisfied. If that turns out to be the case, even more lawlessness, destruction, and chaos will surely be returning to the Twin Cities.
NOW READ:
Bombshell Report: Barr Betrayed Donald Trump After Disappearing When He Needed Him Most
"*" indicates required fields
OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion.