Minneapolis has been at the center of social unrest as the trial against former police officer Derick Chauvin is set to wrap up any moment. After the fatal police officer shooting of Daunte Wright in neighboring Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, last week that led to small-scale riots and looting around the city, the state is preparing for the possibility of unrest similar to the summer 2020 riots as the Chauvin trial comes to a close.

In a letter published by the Star Tribune, the Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson explains the state’s Operation Safety Net. The vision behind the mission is to provide protection for both the city and its residents as they express their first amendment freedoms of peaceful protest and free speech. Sheriff Hutchinson refers to the days following George Floyd's death explaining, "The events that unfolded last summer following the death of George Floyd were unlike any we had ever experienced in Minnesota. Many citizens exercised their free speech rights, held vigils, and peacefully marched. Unfortunately, some individuals resorted to criminal acts of violence, vandalism, arson, and looting.”

The sheriff goes on to explain plans to protect the city and avoid violent civil unrest by stating, “our Crime Information Sharing and Analysis Unit (CISA), along with support from the FBI, allow us to better keep up with where crimes are occurring and get a better handle on whether a group is violent or not. This is important information that assists officers and deputies on the street in an effort to prevent, or quickly respond to, any violence and criminal activity in our communities.”

The sheriff offers a plea of peace explaining, “People who want to turn a peaceful protest into a riot and are intent on breaking the law do not have the right to deprive peaceful protesters of their right to freedom of speech and their right to assemble.” Hutchinson states plainly, “Violence will not be tolerated. If you cause harm, you will be arrested. If you break things, burn things or hurt people, you can expect to go to jail.”

Looting and Unrest after Death of Daunte Wright

Although this message of peaceful protesting has been present since last year’s riots, the call for peace has fallen on deaf ears as looting and rioting still popped up during the protests after Daunte Wright's death. Wright was fatally shot by former police officer Kim Potter who mistook her gun for a taser during a traffic stop.

After the incident which took place on April 11, protesters took to the street. The overwhelmingly peaceful protests took a turn toward violent unrest during the evening and late hours of the night. John Harrington, the Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner shared in a press conference that during those protests, opportunists found openings to target roughly two dozen businesses in a shopping center in Brooklyn Park. Several other businesses in Minneapolis were targeted, destroyed, and looted from as well.

Minneapolis Braces for Riots Following Trial Verdict

Last year's summer riots throughout Minneapolis cost the city over half a million dollars in damages because of the vandalism and looting. For many business owners, the small-scale rioting and looting that happened after the death of Daunte Wright is foreshadowing what may potentially come after the verdict of Chauvin's trial.

One business owner, Gina Ahn, whose family beauty supply businesses were targeted in both riots, shared with local news outlet the Star Tribune, “It's kind of like our worst fears imagined.” Ahn described the looting that took place on April 12th as deja vu. She explains, "It basically happened, what we were preparing for.”

Another local business owner Mauro Madrigal shared, "We are very concerned that if [Chauvin] goes free that everything is going to start up again."

Cities Around the Nation Brace for Unrest

Along with Minneapolis, other major cities around the nation are also bracing for possible unrest after Chauvin's trial. The nation's capital is preparing for violent demonstrations by canceling time-off requests for civil disturbance units and D.C. police officers. The National Guard has also been requested to support the local law enforcement, and police officers will be working around the clock in 12-hour shifts to prepare for all planned and unplanned demonstrations.

Philadelphia businesses are also preparing for possible unrest. Many stores in the Port Richmond neighborhood have begun boarding up windows and doors in fear of potential rioting and looting. The city was one of the hardest hit during the summer riots following Floyd's death. Many of the businesses targeted were small mom and pop shops already struggling because of the pandemic.

Much like the state of Minnesota, business owners and residents in Philadelphia have met with police districts to go over concerns of potential rioting and looting. On Friday, Philadelphia city officials went over plans for law enforcement staffing and emergency operations in the days leading up to the trial's verdict. Additionally, Governor Tom Wolf has activated the Pennsylvania National Guard with roughly 1,000 members expected to be present for any unrest. The proclamation of disaster explains that the Guard is needed to support “the current efforts in Philadelphia to protect our beloved neighbors and city.”

Both the prosecution and defense are set to give closing arguments on Monday. The jury will then be sequestered and deliberate the evidence during the trial. Some jurors have asked how long they should plan to deliberate for. Judge Peter Cahill responded, "If I were you, I'd plan for long, and hope for short."