Minneapolis (KROC AM News) - The violence that has erupted in the Twin Cities this week is affecting more people than just those who have lost property to fires and looting.

3rd precinct fire

 

Target has closed its metro area stores after two of them were trashed during riots Wednesday and Thursday. Metro Transit has decided to suspend its bus and light rail transit through the weekend. Some food distribution programs that were set up as the COVID-19 pandemic grew have also been suspended out of concern for those involved. 

Although the violence has been centered in the Minneapolis neighborhood where George Floyd died while being arrested Monday, there was widespread damage to businesses in St Paul Thursday and many stores in both cities were taking steps to protect their employees and property.

Gov. Tim Walz activated the National Guard but troops were not visible during Thursday’s violence in Minneapolis, which was highlighted by the city’s decision to abandon its third precinct where the officers involved in the Floyd incident were based before they were fired.

Mayor Jacob Frey held a news conference early Friday as the precinct was still burning. When asked why the decision was made to leave the precinct unprotected, Frey said “Brick and mortar are not as important as life.

Frey said the violence and destruction from the past two days “is unacceptable.”  He said his city “will not and can not tolerate this activity.” 

Frey has been very vocal in criticizing the officers involved in Floyd’s death and has questioned why the officer who was kneeling on his neck isn’t in jail.

Here is his early Friday news conference from the city's Facebook site:

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