Steven Garcia, as told to Gabby del Valle:
I was in the middle of a frozen lake when I got the notification Minnesota Star Tribune That there has been firing there. I was on assignment at a pond hockey event, and the guy who was supposed to play later that evening said he probably wouldn’t be able to attend – he knew there would be protests and demonstrations.
I arrived a little more than three hours later. Federal authorities had already cleared the scene – the FBI was there investigating – so the only law enforcement officers present were state and local officials: the Minneapolis Police Department, their SWAT team, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol.
There were protesters at many intersections. People had blocked the streets with trash and garbage bins, and there were mattresses on the ground. Protesters were pushing and shoving officers, but no fighting occurred. Eventually law enforcement retreated a block and began throwing tear gas. While leaving, they drove their trucks over the mattresses.
When tear gas shells are released, they burst and explode like fireworks. Dozens of canisters were getting clogged. Even in the beginning, they were throwing four, five, six canisters at a time. I had to hide in an alley for a while because it got into my mask. Even in small amounts, it’s not a fun experience. You have to keep your eyes closed. It burns your eyes, it burns your mouth. In some people, it causes nausea and skin irritation. Another local reporter told me his neck was burning and he had to use a decon wipe.
I think in 2020, because of George Floyd, people knew how to react. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, who has been here the entire time, said community members in Minneapolis are really prepared. Many people I’ve talked to have said, “I had my respirator ready from 2020,” and they restocked on safety supplies, decon wipes, and first aid kits. Even if they are not immediately prepared, they can still respond rapidly to these types of incidents. At every event I’ve been to, people will set up a table to hand out food, water, and hand warmers. It was particularly cold today – it shouldn’t have gone above 0 degrees.
After officers cleared the scene, everyone gathered at the intersection of 26th and Nicolet, not far from where Alex Pretty was shot. Some community members started a makeshift vigil for him at the spot where he was killed. People were writing her name with pinecones and starting to leave flowers.
<a href