The second autonomous zone in Uptown Minneapolis was the epicenter of another night of violence, despite law enforcement trying to keep the streets clear. The Uptown autonomous zone, or Boogie World, was established in early June after U.S. Marshals fatally shot a wanted man, Winston Smith.
Witnesses have reported that four dumpster fires were lit, with one dumpster melting into the pavement.
Lake and Girard Ave S this morning. Pic 1 is the spot where three dumpsters were on fire last night, one melted into the ground.
Pics from a follower. pic.twitter.com/ZXsq4l0xRD
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 25, 2021
Others shared that there were several protesters with firearms, including one who allegedly had an AR-15.
Here's rifle guy. https://t.co/aiiUYedFPK pic.twitter.com/tVusvlqTxm
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 25, 2021
A passerby reported to Crime Watch that a protester told them that if they proceeded to drive past they would be “shot in the head.”
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 25, 2021
Steve Taylor posted in the Uptown Crime Facebook group that stores and an apartment building were vandalized, there were armed men with guns threatening neighbors, and multiple firearms were discharged throughout the night.
Crime Watch reported that SWAT teams and police moved in on the protesters shortly after 2:00a.m. after the streets had been barricaded for several hours. Several arrests were made but the full extent is not known at this time.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 25, 2021
One instigator was arrested for the fourth time in three weeks.
Aaaaand he's back in.
Three hots and a cot for Barry #TheKlown Hill. pic.twitter.com/hgmzhA2nUr
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 25, 2021
One resident of Uptown posted in the Uptown Crime group that he will be moving next week. He wrote, “I’ve lived here 13 years and this is the worst I have ever seen Uptown and Lake Street. I’ll be moving next week to another area in the city but I wish everyone here safety.”
Another local went out to clean up the aftermath on the streets and worked shoveling the burned debris from the dumpster fires. He shared that it took over an hour and a half “because it was all melted together and stuck to the street.”
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network and The College Fix. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Minneapolis” by CrimeWatchMpls.
