🦄 Police
image: the hill of protesters reacts positively to the notion of defunding & disbanding the Minneapolis police department. In the foreground one person's left hand is upraised with their fingers outstretched and their palm towards the stage.

Nine Council Members Vow to Disband Minneapolis Police

Minneapolis, MN – In an historic meeting on June 7, 2020, local elected officials promised to dismantle the scandal-ridden Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).
Time will tell whether this promise will actually be implemented, or if it was simply convenient political posturing during a popular uprising.…

🦄 Police

Rally and March to Defund MPD after George Floyd: Day 12

Minneapolis, MN – Unicorn Riot covered a march demanding the Minneapolis Police Department is defunded and disbanded. Thousands attended this action led by Black youth – now the 12th straight day of protests and actions in the city after George Floyd was murdered by police.…

🦄 Police

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…

🦄 Police

Minneapolis Protests Police Murder of George Floyd: Day 7

Minneapolis, MN – Extended protests have continued in the Twin Cities and a vigil site has become ensconced in the intersection around the where a black man named George Floyd brutally lost his life to a now-former Minneapolis police officer. The Twin Cities is still…

🦄 Police

New Footage Reveals Moments Before George Floyd’s Death

Minneapolis, MN – While unprecedented protests erupt across the nation, new surveillance footage has surfaced online of the moments before the death of George Floyd. The 46-year-old unarmed African American man was accused of forgery before he was killed by Minneapolis Police Officers on May…

🦄 Police
image: dozens of protesters raise their fists as first burn behind them on the grounds of the 3rd precinct. Photo taken at midnight on May 29, 2020

Twin Cities Protest Death of George Floyd: Day 3

Minneapolis, MN – Protesters are continuing to gather outside the Minneapolis Police (MPD) 3rd Precinct building today after extended protests and clashes with police yesterday. The Twin Cities is still engulfed in mass outrage after MPD officer Derek Chauvin was filmed choking a black man…

🦄 Police
Image: the side entrance to the Minneapolis Police Department uses bullet-proof glass in the windows and door, which are each showing several fractures from having objects thrown at them from protesters. 'MPD 3rd Precinct, Public Entrance on Minnehaha Ave.' is written in gold stencils on the door.

Minneapolis Protests Police Murder of George Floyd: Day 2

Minneapolis, MN – Protesters are continuing to gather outside the Minneapolis Police (MPD) 3rd Precinct building today after extended protests and clashes with police yesterday. The Twin Cities is still engulfed in mass outrage after MPD officer Derek Chauvin was filmed choking a black man…

🦄 Police

Minneapolis Police Murder Handcuffed Man With Neck-Kneel

Minneapolis, MN – “I can’t breathe” were some of the last words of the latest victim to police terror. Memorial Day in Minneapolis saw the echoing of the same words as Eric Garner before he was killed by police six years earlier. For over eight…

🦄 COVID-19
Bicyclists watch a caravan of cars on May Day

Minneapolis May Day Protest Supports Essential Workers

Minneapolis, MN – An autonomous demonstration on International Workers’ Day broke off from a large ‘Cancel Rent’ caravan to show support for essential workers.
Dozens of cars and bicycles drove through downtown Minneapolis in a show of solidarity for striking workers across the world that…

🦄 Police

Group Pushing For Better Police Contract Shut Out Of Public Meetings

Minneapolis, MN – A community coalition which recommended changes to a new contract between Minneapolis Police and the city are calling for contract transparency and an end to closed-door meetings.

As police conduct continues to be a hot-button topic, community members from MPLS For A…

🦄 Social Control

Far-Right Stirs Violence Against Anti-Trump Protests

Minneapolis, MN – An upcoming Trump rally announced for Thursday, October 10 at the downtown Target Center in Minneapolis has local left-leaning groups organizing counter-protests while national right-wing groups conflate their plans with false claims of terrorism. Plans to hold the GOP political rally in…

🦄 Police

Killed by Police: Thurman Blevins Remembered One Year Later

Minneapolis, MN – Unicorn Riot recently sat down with Darlynn Blevins, sister of 31-year-old father of three, Thurman “June” Blevins, who was killed by Minneapolis police after being shot in the back while running down a North Minneapolis alley on June 23, 2018.

In the…

🦄 Police

No Charges Filed in Blevins’ Killing as Body Camera Footage is Released

Minneapolis, MN – In an arduous 16 hours for Thurman Blevins’ family and friends, body camera footage showing Blevins death was published and the next morning it was announced that no charges would be filed against the officers involved in fatally shooting Blevins.
Hennepin County…

🦄 Police

Body Cam Videos of Police Killing Blevins to be Released Post-BCA Interviews

Minneapolis, MN – Mayor Jacob Frey announced the City of Minneapolis will release police body camera footage of Thurman ‘Junior’ Blevins’ death as soon as the Blevins family is consulted and all of the witnesses have been interviewed by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).…

🦄 Community, Police

Police Kill Man in North Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN – Unicorn Riot is reporting from the site where Minneapolis police just killed a man in North Minneapolis, Thurman Blevins, who is said to be 30 or 31 years old. We are at the scene and collecting witness testimony.
UPDATED POST – Sunday…

🦄 Police

Jury Finds Minneapolis Cop Not Guilty for Shooting at Car With Six Youth

Minneapolis, MN – On Tuesday, February 20, a Hennepin County jury found Minneapolis Police Officer Efrem Hamilton not guilty on multiple felony charges for shooting at a car occupied by six young adults. Hamilton was charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless discharge of…

🦄 Police

Youth March Demands ‘Cops Out of Schools’ on Super Bowl Eve

Minneapolis, MN – On the day before Super Bowl LII, youth organized and led a march to the home of the chair of the local school board with a series of demands, including an end to employing police inside of Minneapolis Public Schools. Unicorn Riot…

🦄 Police

Minneapolis Police Kill Woman Who Called 911

Minneapolis, MN – Late in the night of July 15, 2017, Justine Maia Ruszczyk called 911 after she heard a sound in the alley of her Southwest Minneapolis home. That call turned into her death. Two Minneapolis Police officers responded to the 911 call in…

🦄 Racism & Far-Right

Scarsella Trial – Part Four: Shooting Victims Testify

Minneapolis, MN – White supremacist Allen ‘Lance’ Scarsella shot five unarmed Black protesters in North Minneapolis on November 23, 2015. Protests for Jamar Clark, who was executed by the Minneapolis Police on November 15, led to an outdoor occupation of the 4th Precinct police station,…