Walz faces renewed attacks for violent Minneapolis protests in 2020
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Gov. Tim Walz speaks in the days after violent protests in Minneapolis in 2020. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Republicans are already attacking Kamala Harris' new running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, over his response to the violence that erupted in his state after the 2020 Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Why it matters: Walz's ascension to the 2024 ticket is forcing a reexamination of how he responded to the crisis that saw parts of the city burn for three days.
Flashback: In late May 2020, graphic video of Floyd's death went viral and prompted unprecedented racial justice protests nationwide.
- In Minneapolis, they soon turned violent, as people burned, looted or damaged more than 1,500 buildings in the city, causing $500 million in damage.
- The three nights of outrage centered on Lake Street, a bustling corridor of immigrant-owned businesses.
Catch up quick: During the first night of destruction, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey asked the governor to deploy the National Guard, according to texts obtained by the Star Tribune. Later that night, the chief of police sent four-point mission plan to the state department of public safety.
- Walz, a 24-year member of the Guard, has said Frey didn't give him adequate information to provide the soldiers a mission at that time.
The morning after a second night of burning, Walz in a press conference labeled the city's response an "abject failure." He deployed the National Guard, but only a small contingent were on the ground during a third night of violence.
- After that night he mobilized a larger group of soldiers, who successfully helped quell the situation.
Between the lines: A third-party after-action assessment described the problem as a communication breakdown between the governor and the mayor.
The other side: Trump, who was president at the time, said at a recent campaign rally that he "sent the National Guard to save Minneapolis" in 2020, even though he did not.
- He did, on the morning after the third night of violence, threaten to send in the military.
Reality check: Walz later denied that he activated the Guard due to pressure from Trump.
- The governor said at a state Capitol press conference last week: "Decisions were made in a situation, that is what it is, and I said we believed we tried to do the best that we can in each of those."
The intrigue: Minnesota DFL chair Ken Martin told Axios Tuesday that it ultimately isn't a liability for the Harris-Walz ticket.
- He countered that while Walz was trying to get the situation under control, Trump was "pouring gasoline on the fire."
- Trump famously tweeted during the crisis that "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
Axios' Torey Van Oot and Kyle Stokes contributed reporting.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say city officials first asked the governor to deploy the National Guard on the first night of burning (not the second) and that Walz held a press conference on the third day (not the second day).
