Since the horrific murder of unarmed black man George Floyd by the hands of white Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, there has been talk of possible martial law to temper down riots sprouting across the U.S. However, this isn’t the first time that the conversation has been attached to Minnesota.
Back in 1934, Floyd B. Olson, Governor of Minnesota at the time, implemented martial law over Minneapolis after a union strike turned into chaos.
The Minneapolis general strike of 1934 developed from a conflict between union Teamsters and Minneapolis police. Police opened fire on 67 protestors, killing two of them. The July 20th incident became known as Bloody Friday.
Gov. Olson sent out four thousand National Guardsmen of the 34th Infantry who enforced curfews, patrol units and permits for travel. By the time issues between the government and unions were settled, the strike, and its substantial violence, had gone on for an entire summer, from May 20 through August 22.
It seems that history is attempting to repeat itself. Nearly 86 years later in the month of May, the name Floyd is in the headlines again and it’s attached to civil unrest. The only difference is that the face and cause of the movement has changed. Instead of white men fighting for better pay and opportunity, people of color are fighting for justice and civil rights.
Hopefully, justice will be served in the case of George Floyd and police reform will be enforced before conditions get worse.
