MINNEAPOLIS — George Floyd Square has become a place of reflection where many have left memorials to commemorate the tragic incident that affected the world.
Georgio Wright is from this area. He witnessed the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath.
“We call it journeys. I’m taking you on this journey to learn about history,” Wright said.
He now guides those who will embark on a historic journey through this space.
“You have 169 names on the street of people who lost their lives to police brutality.” I always tell people, you know, read the name, Google it, because everybody has a story,” Wright said.
CONNECTED: 3 years later, George Floyd Square remains a pilgrimage destination, with some traveling thousands of miles to visit.
These are the stories he feels are important to tell.
“You know, it’s not just the police, it’s Black people killing Black people. That’s something we need to work on as well,” Wright said.
He hopes that those who experience it will retell it in their corner of the world.
“Hope is renewed, it’s renewed, you know we have to keep fighting,” Wright said.
Many who work and live here say the community is recovering from the uprising following Floyd’s killing and the shutdown of the area.
“The police couldn’t get here or the medical help at all,” said Cedric Steele, co-owner of Just Turkei.
Business owner Cedric Steele says the closure has forced community policing, but the effort has hurt his and other businesses near 38th and Chicago.
RELATED: Chief O’Hara: Police must deal with ‘disgusting’ MPD shooting of George Floyd
“It was hard for us and all the businesses here to do business because the customers couldn’t ride in the food delivery trucks, they couldn’t drive the food in,” Steele said.
He saw positive changes.
“It’s gotten quieter, better over the years,” Steele said.
Style did not move Just Turkei. He and other business owners stayed, wanting to be part of positive change.
“I hope they build something here for the community and for a change,” Wright said.
Wright says he sees that change — the community working together.
New businesses and entrepreneurs are occupying space in a place that was once difficult to access.
Wright is happy to show those on this trip everything that happened here, hoping they will never forget.
“I always say I could have been George and he could have been me. So I always say, I always push the narrative, ‘we have to make a change, we have to take a stand,'” Wright said.
RELATED: 3 years after George Floyd’s killing, President Biden calls on Congress to ‘enact meaningful police reform’
Reg Chapman