If you were not able to access the WaPo article I linked yesterday that examined the historical racism in the Minneapolis police department, google “Bob Kroll” to read about the head of the police union.

A list of damaged buildings in various parts of Minneapolis.

• Ingebretsen’s Scandinavian Gifts, where we buy gaffelbiter at Christmas;
• Freewheel Bike Midtown, a favorite place for Younger Son, the bicyclist;
• Seward Coop, the co-op I tended to patronize when we lived in Minneapolis; our boys went to school in the Seward neighborhood;
• Midtown Market, the old Sears building revamped in a site for many minority-owned businesses, a great place to enjoy ethic food, and where I tend to buy kalamata olives;
• Town Talk Diner and Gastropub, where YS and we have eaten;
• Target on East Lake Street, where I have shopped many times;
• Many businesses at Calhoun Square, including Kitchen Window, a favorite of mine.

As I perused this list, it seemed that the most popular place for looting were Target, auto parts stores, and liquor stores. Make of that what you will.

A quote from an acquaintance’s post on Facebook:

I feel compelled to DO something! It feels immoral to go about my day working in the garden when this is happening in Cities that both [my husband] and I have worked in/lived in for decades. Many of the businesses destroyed the first night are ones that I frequent. Report after report from citizens are saying the same thing:

White men in black/disguises, out of state vehicles, “airport limo-like” SUVs packed with white people racing up and down the streets, vandalizing, creating chaos and them zooming off.

From another friend’s FB post:

“It’s not locals. My friend who lives in north Mpls. says she’s seeing cars full of white guys with license plates from NoDak, WI, Arkansas, etc. Google ‘Boogaloos'”.

Even the Twin Cities news outlets are starting to carry reports of the outside white supremacist agitators. Rep. Ilhan Omar and two state senators spoke in front of the Midtown Market (linked above); she pointed out that much of the damage is in minority neighborhoods and seems to have targeted minority-owned businesses. From a local newscast: “When you look at what has been happening in the last 36 hours, it appears that the agitators are not from the city.” I just hope the national media pick this up; it is not local minorities who are doing this.

I am proud of Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, for prioritizing lives over property. While it is tragic for those small business owners who have lost their livelihoods, I cannot help but hold human life above all else. Too many lives have been lost over the decades when the opposite was the priority. Property can be replaced, albeit with much difficulty; lives cannot.

People made food donations. Because areas of the city will be food deserts for awhile, you can donate here to help. Many more places where you can donate to help.

People turned out en masse to clean up damage. As  white people who cannot help with that particular effort, what can you and I do? Here is a list of ways to start. That last link came from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Thank you, DPW!

The highways into the city will be closed from 8:00 pm tonight until 6:00 am Sunday.

Tips from a local TV station:

In another tiny positive note, Crayola (finally!) does the right thing.