A peaceful protest of approximately 60 people was held Friday, April 16 at the corner of Flying Cloud Drive and Singletree Lane in Eden Prairie.
The rally was brought together by OneMinnesota.
The OneMinnesota Facebook page which was created in June, 2020 self-describes the group as “A group of BIPOC, Mixed racial and Allies who stand together to challenge the system through education, action, and unity bridging,” focused on addressing systemic racism. (Note: BIPOC is an acronym for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.)
The protesters held signs at each of the four corners of the intersection.
Vanessa Nordstrom, an organizer with OneMinnesota, said the sentiments of passing motorists was overwhelmingly positive with many smiling and honking horns.
Nordstrom did note there were some negative sentiments.
One driver was observed yelling out “You’re on the wrong side!”
Nordstrom said OneMinnesota was holding a similar Black Lives Matter event in Chanhassen, Saturday, April 17, starting at 4 pm.
The group seeks to “bring attention & awareness to the ongoing trauma of police brutality and demand justice for Daunte Wright” according to the event’s Facebook page.
Non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies and ethnic hair care items are also being collected at the Saturday event.
A nearby Baker’s Ribs closed early citing the Friday protest in its social media.
Nordstrom described the Baker’s Ribs shutdown as “funny.”
The OneMinnesota Facebook page noted “Pretty obvious which restaurant we should support.”
Henry • May 10, 2021 at 12:37 pm
Didn’t want peaceful protesters looting the store
Matthew Jones • Apr 17, 2021 at 5:29 pm
Interesting that a group focused on “unity bridging” chooses to put the negative spotlight on a local business for posting a very reasonable message about choosing to close due to safety concerns. Bakers Ribs didn’t call out or criticize the movement, and businesses have every right to be concerned, but OneMinnesota clearly chose divisiveness and cancel culture over unity.
Matthew Jones • Apr 17, 2021 at 5:03 pm
Bakers Ribs choosing to shut down is “funny” somehow? What about businesses boarding up windows downtown? What about the majority of Hennepin County’s law enforcement resources being committed to Brooklyn Center? Is that funny, too?