A nationwide reckoning over police crackdowns and systemic racial injustice sparked again by Floyd’s death last summer has sparked fresh, sometimes violent protests this week.
According to a letter to students and parents from Chief Superintendent Ed Graff, Minneapolis public schools will begin remote learning starting Wednesday, pending a verdict in the lawsuit.
Closing arguments will be delivered Monday in the trial of the former officer who walked on Floyd’s neck and back for nine minutes and 29 seconds last May. Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to charges of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Graff said all students will be doing distance learning Wednesday through the end of the week. Sports events and before and after school care do not take place.
“The racism and violence highlighted in these tragic incidents can be widely discussed among some students in our schools,” Graff said in the letter posted on the school system’s website.
“Where appropriate and when they feel comfortable, educators will give students the opportunity to process their feelings, how this feels for them personally, and how they are affected by having the world’s eyes on Minneapolis.”
In downtown Minneapolis, where the segregated jury will hold deliberations, this week crews were seen installing barbed wire around a police building. According to Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder, similar measures were taken at other police stations.
National Guard troops have been deployed in parts of downtown Minneapolis.
The Hennepin County Government Center has been surrounded by railings and barricades since jury selection began last month.
Other US cities are preparing for verdict and protests
According to Captain Stacy Spell, the Los Angeles Police Department has stepped up the community’s efforts and planned to provide additional agents.
“We also strongly encourage that when those people who want to express themselves see something, they say something,” he said. “We don’t want small groups of individuals with malicious intent to hijack what would otherwise be a peaceful demonstration.”
In San Francisco, police said the days off for agents have been canceled and additional agents will be deployed.
Atlanta police said in a statement that it is coordinating efforts with local, state and federal law enforcement officials and that agents are willing to respond quickly.
In New York City, police were preparing for protests.
“We are in constant, literally daily conversations,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “It is clear that so much will happen based on what the verdict is and how it is expressed.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said the city has held an average of 10 to 20 protests a day since last year. “It never really ended,” he told 1010 WINS Radio on Wednesday.
“We’re just asking everyone to come out and raise their, you know, concerns about this lawsuit, let’s just work together, do it peacefully, no property damage and we’ll get through it together,” Shea said.
Philadelphia police said it is prepared “with additional personnel to secure and patrol strategic locations.”
In the nation’s capital, the Metropolitan Police Department will be “fully activated with members on 12-hour shifts from Monday,” said spokesman Hugh Carew.
CNN’s Josh Campbell, Dan Przygoda, Hollie Silverman, Christina Carrega, Rob Frehse, Virginia Langmaid, Cheri Mossburg, Stephanie Elam and Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.