Owner Assaulted by Troopers While Protecting His Business
Minneapolis, MN – Minneapolis business owner Louis Hunter was standing in front of his business Saturday night when State Troopers assaulted him and our team in efforts to enforce a city wide curfew. The 8 p.m. curfew was issued Friday evening following days of protests and riots near Hunter’s business.
While thousands have gathered in Minneapolis to peacefully protest the police killing George Floyd, thousands have battled with the police on the frontlines and others have used this as an opportunity to break into businesses, vandalize small business owners property and set fires throughout the city.
As a result business owners like Hunter find themselves in a tough spot. Do you stand your ground at your business to try and deter arsonists and looters? Or do you stay home and hope nothing bad happens?
Hunter, owner of Trio, the first Black owned plant-based restaurant in Minnesota, decided to stand in at his business Saturday, the night of May 30, protecting and preserving what he has worked tirelessly to create.
“People are angry and stuff. So all I am trying to do is protect it so we can stay here to serve the community afterwards,” says Hunter.
Shortly after we began our interview with Hunter, Minnesota State Patrol troopers moving toward his business enforcing the curfew forcefully pushed him and two members of our media displaying press passes into his place of business.
These acts of aggression from police are not new to Hunter.
“I got hit with marker rounds three years ago,” says Hunter who was shot by police during a protest that shut down I-94, fighting for justice for his cousin Philando Castile. Hunter was also targeted with serious felony charges for protesting on behalf of his cousin. The charges were later dropped after a pressure support campaign by concerned community members.
During the five days of protesting, Hunter is not the only business owner who has faced this dilemma. The owner of Cadillac Pawn and Jewelry shot and killed Calvin Horton on the sidewalk during the rioting. John Rieple, the owner of Cadillac Pawn was arrested and released with no charges although Minnesota’s Duty to Retreat law does not give right for business owner to kill someone over merchandise. The shooting did not prevent his store from being looted and vandalized further.
Watch our full live stream from the night of this incident:
Unicorn Riot's George Floyd Coverage:
- George Floyd Uprising – Reporter Reflection [5 Episode Series] - Fall 2020
- Beyond the Barricades: A Look At George Floyd Square [Mini-Doc - March 2021]
- Fourth Killer of George Floyd Found Guilty - May 3, 2023
- Two Years After George Floyd - May 27, 2022
- One Year After George Floyd in Europe: Afro-Greeks and African Migrants Speak Out [Videos] - February 17, 2022
- Judge Cahill’s No-Knock Warrant Led to MPD Execution of Amir Locke - February 8, 2022
- Caravan for George Floyd as Federal Trial Begins for Officers Lane, Kueng, and Thao - January 22, 2022
- One Year After George Floyd in Europe: The Deep Roots of Racism in Germany [Video] - October 11, 2021
- Minneapolis Pushes Activists to Their Limits - July 22, 2021
- Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin Sentenced to 22.5 Years for George Floyd Murder - June 25, 2021
- Community Gathers at George Floyd Square After City Removes Concrete Barriers - June 3, 2021
- The State’s Conviction of Chauvin Upholds the System’s ‘Innocence’ - April 25, 2021
- Derek Chauvin Found Guilty in Murder of George Floyd - April 22, 2021
- Derek Chauvin Trial Coverage Landing Page - 2021
- George Floyd Square Celebrates Malcolm X - March 2, 2021
- Jay Kolls: False Reporting From George Floyd Square to D.C. - January 23, 2021
- Minneapolis Police Violently Assault Man Yards From George Floyd Memorial - December 23, 2020
- Behind the Law Enforcement Response to the George Floyd Uprising – Pt 1: Munitions Delivery - December 3, 2020
- Pawn Shop Owner Faces No Charges in Killing Man, State Blames Protesters - November 8, 2020
- Feds Leverage Civil Disorder Charge Against George Floyd Protester - November 1, 2020
- Minneapolis Protest Art Collection Becomes Largest of its Kind - October 28, 2020
- Chauvin Has 3rd Degree Murder Charge Dropped, 2nd Degree Charges Upheld - October 23, 2020
- Youth Lead March After Ex-Cop Charged in Floyd’s Murder Bailed Out - October 14, 2020
- Ex-Cop Charged in George Floyd Murder Out On $1M Bail, Dozens Arrested in Protest - October 7, 2020
- Pretrial Begins: County Attorney Freeman Pulled from George Floyd Police Prosecutions - September 14, 2020
- “No Justice, No Street" – Community Makes Demands, Eviction of George Floyd Memorial Square Delayed - August 17, 2020
- George Floyd Uprising in Minneapolis–Saint Paul — The First Two Weeks - June 14, 2020
- Denver Police Served Temporary Restraining Order Amid Nationwide Protest Repression - June 11, 2020
- Nine Council Members Vow to Disband Minneapolis Police - June 10, 2020
- Rally and March to Defund MPD after George Floyd: Day 12 - June 6, 2020
- George Floyd Memorial Service in Minneapolis - June 4, 2020
- Action at WCCO to End Media Bias Against Victims of Police Violence: Day 9 - June 3, 2020
- Owner Assaulted by Troopers While Protecting His Business - June 2, 2020
- Minneapolis Protests Police Murder of George Floyd: Day 7 - June 1, 2020
- New Footage Reveals Moments Before George Floyd’s Death - May 30, 2020
- Twin Cities Protest Death of George Floyd: Day 3 - May 28, 2020
- Minneapolis Protests Police Murder of George Floyd: Day 2 - May 27, 2020
- Minneapolis Police Murder Handcuffed Man With Neck-Kneel - May 26, 2020