After four nights without police presence, neighborhoods protect themselves
After four long nights without assistance from first responders in the wake of riots and looting after the death of George Floyd, Longfellow residents decided to take matters into their own hands. Many coordinated efforts to block off side streets along this stretch of East Lake Street, using caution tape, saw horses and makeshift barricades to protect residential areas from rioters.
Although police and the National Guard greatly outnumbered peaceful protesters on Saturday, that wasn’t always the case. Hillary Oppmann watched vandals loot the corner Walgreens for three straight nights without interference before arsonists finally lit it on fire last night. Firefighters didn’t make it to the scene for more than 7 hours.
“We can’t lose anymore assets, like our libraries, pharmacies and post office,” said Oppmann, who lives three doors down from Lake Street. “They were simply left to burn.”
Longfellow Market, now boarded with plywood, is one of the few remaining grocery stores — after Target, Aldi and Cub Foods fell — thanks to dozens of neighbors who guard the store each night, along with Peppers & Fries sports grill across the street.
The residents, many donning bright yellow safety vests, communicate over handheld radios to alert each other about incoming danger. Some are armed with bats.
A group of community members on 29th Street and S. 18th Avenue created a barricade on their street with construction signs and metal fences and wielded bats and some were wearing protective gear. Tim Springer went to a community meeting earlier today and it was suggested that people should protect their neighborhood because the police might not be able to.
“I’m totally disgusted that there are provocateurs that are turning this into something it shouldn’t be,” he said. “We should be focusing really hard on not only justice for George Floyd but also systems change.”
