REPORTAGE
Buildings destroyed, businesses burned down, looted supermarkets: since the protests and riots began in response to the death of George Floyd, an African American in his forties killed by a white police officer during his arrest, the damage in Minneapolis has been considerable. But the population does not allow itself to be put down and shows great solidarity.
>> READ ALSO - Fourth day of demonstrations in Minneapolis: "We screwed up the mess in America"
Along Nicollet Street, where clashes have taken place in recent days, a human chain of sweepers has thus formed. Hundreds of Minneapolis residents from across the city with shovels, pails and brooms clean up the mess of the night before. Lisa, covered in soot after emptying burnt out offices, explains that she needed to do something to ease the suffering of this city she loves so much.
"People are angry because we haven't listened to them for too long"
"Do I approve of the destruction? No, of course. But do I understand why it happens? Yes, I think so," she explains to the microphone of Europe 1. "As a woman white, it's a reminder of the trauma of this community, "she said. Like Lisa, many volunteers support the protest movement in which their city is the epicenter.
"People are angry because we haven't listened to them for too long. I'm a shrink, and when a trauma is not recognized for generations, that's what happens," continues Lisa, showing the damage of the previous day .
Human chain of street sweepers to clean up yesterday's mess in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/bijVMwrJSV
- Xavier Yvon (@xavieryvon) May 30, 2020"We couldn't open so we decided to donate food"
Bridgit has set up a table on the sidewalk, and offers her marinated pork sandwiches to everyone passing by. This restaurant manager saw her establishment vandalized in the night from Friday to Saturday. "We couldn't open so we decided to donate the food," she says with a smile. "It's the right thing to do: be good with each other, lead by example."
>> Watch Bernard Poirette's morning show in replay and podcast here
Other volunteers brought drills and boards to help traders barricade themselves, because everyone is convinced: the violence will continue in the coming days. Already on the night of Saturday to Sunday, clashes continued to spread throughout the country, forcing many cities, including Los Angeles, to implement a curfew.