Demonstrators carry portraits of Black men and women who were killed by police as they march through downtown Minneapolis for George Floyd and all victims of police violence Friday, April 9, 2021.
The eyes of the world were on Minneapolis during the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who murdered George Floyd.
While the community grappled with this grief and the uncertainty of the trial, two more Black men were killed by police in Minnesota.
On December 30, 2020 Dolal Idd, a 23-year-old Somali-American man, was killed during a felony traffic stop at a Holiday gas station, in the same neighborhood where George Floyd was killed. In an exchange of gunfire while cornered at the gas station, Idd died on the scene.
On April 11, 2021, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was killed by former police officer Kim Potter during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Potter allegedly meant to reach for her taser, but instead shot Wright in the chest with her handgun. He died on the scene.
On February 2, 2022, 22-year-old Amir Locke was shot and killed in under ten seconds during a no-knock warrrant. Locke's name was not on said warrant. "His name wasn't on your warrant, but it will be on your law books," said his father Andre Locke during his eulogy.
A community already exhausted by months of protests, by riots after George Floyd's murder, and continuing cycles of trauma and grief took to the streets again.
Top: A demonstrator’s shadow is projected onto clouds of teargas and the gunpowder from flash bangs outside of Brooklyn Center Police Department after former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter shot and killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright April 11, 2021.
Bottom: Red and blue lights are reflected in melted snow on the spot where Minneapolis police officers shot and killed 23-year-old Dolal Idd December 30, 2020.
Senior Marlee Williams chants at the front of the march as over a thousand students from several different high schools march for Amir Locke from Central High School to the Governor's Mansion Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.
A man smashes the windows of a police cars a few blocks from where Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Duante Wright, 20, during a traffic stop Sunday, April 11, 2021. Former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter, who was with the department for 26 years, says she meant to pull her taser but pulled her gun instead.
Simone Hunter chants at the police line a few blocks from where Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Duante Wright, 20, during a traffic stop Sunday, April 11, 2021.
A man clutches the side of his head after he was hit with a rubber bullet a few blocks from where Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Duante Wright, 20, during a traffic stop Sunday, April 11, 2021.
Demonstrators chant “hands up don’t shoot” at the police line in the rain at Brooklyn Center Police Department as they protest Sunday, April 11, 2021.
Top: Two men stand on top of their car as hundreds of demonstrators gather at Brooklyn Center Police Department in the second day of protests after Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Duante Wright.
Bottom: Demonstrators march past flowers, broken mirrors, and fake blood strewn across the street near Hennepin County Government Center on the first day of jury selection for the trial of Derek Chauvin Monday, March 8, 2021.
Amir Locke’s family and friends raise their hands up as James Greer and Company performs during the funeral for Amir Locke Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis police shot and killed Locke, 22, while executing a no-knock search on February 2nd.
Olivia brushes away her friend Mayah’s tears after an emotional balloon release honoring victims of police violence Friday, April 9, 2021. The march and balloon release were held late at night, “because if we can’t sleep, neither can they.”
Emajay Driver, a close friend of Duante Wright, sits down in shock while Ronnie White, blue hood, talks in his ear while he has trouble standing back up a few blocks from where Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Duante Wright, 20, hours earlier on Sunday, April 11, 2021.
Police spray mace as demonstrators shield themselves behind several umbrellas at Brooklyn Center Police Department for the fourth night of protests Wednesday, April 14, 2021 after former officer Kimberly Potter shot and killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop earlier in the week.
Two protesters help a man reacting to teargas, one holding his eyes open and the other flushing them with milk at Brooklyn Center Police Department Sunday, April 11, 2021 after Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Duante Wright.
A demonstrator in a protest marshal vest kneels in clouds of tear gas for several minutes in front of a Minnesota National Guard vehicle at Brooklyn Center Police Department Sunday, April 11, 2021 after Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Duante Wright.
Attorney Ben Crump arrives at the funeral for Amir Locke Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis police shot and killed Locke, 22, while executing a no-knock search on February 2nd.
Balloons float over Hennepin County Government Center, released to honor all victims of police violence Friday, April 9, 2021.
Michael Odiari leads the crowd in chanting “I am somebody!” while waving a Black Lives Matter flag at Brooklyn Center Police Department during the fourth night of protests after former officer Kimberly Potter shot and killed Daunte Wright.
Katie Wright, Daunte Wright’s mother, is comforted by Aubrey Wright, Daunte Wright’s father at New Salem Baptist Church during a press conference April 15, 2021 after former officer Kimberly Potter was charged with second degree manslaughter after shooting and killing Daunte Wright.
Daunte Wright’s parents and legal representation leave the court, passing two police cars and a post with Amir Locke’s name written on it, as snow begins to fall after former officer Kim Potter was sentenced to two years in prison Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 in Minneapolis.
Top: A jar with “your life matters” written on the lid sits among hundreds of flowers at the site where Daunte Wright was killed Thursday, April 15, 2021.
Bottom: Hundreds of demonstrators gather outside of Hennepin County Government Center during opening statements in the trial of Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota Monday, March 29, 2021.