Following the George Floyd incident in May, cities around the country exploded in anger, violence, and destruction, as the Black Lives Matter movement rose from dormancy.
But as the summer wore on, it became obvious that many groups – BLM, for certain, but also anarchist organizations like the loosely affiliated group known as Antifa – used Floyd’s death as a mechanism to advance their causes. The chaos was contagious.
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Now, however, the trials involving the four police officers involved in the Floyd incident – all of whom have been charged with crimes including murder – are set to begin in Minneapolis. And already officials are preparing for renewed violence.
The Minnesota National Guard may deploy indefinitely to Minneapolis while the four former police officers involved in the death of George Floyd are on trial in 2021, an ABC affiliate reported Wednesday.
The National Guard’s 12-page plan dubbed “Operation Safety Net” details a worst-case scenario plan where all available state guard forces are deployed for an indefinite amount of time during and after the trials of former Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Keung, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, local outlet KSTP reported.
“It’s very prudent on us to make sure we’re planning for large scale numbers and how we would activate units,” Col. Scott Rohweder said, KSTP added.
Should the deployment happen – and it’s almost got to – it’ll be the fourth time in a year Gov. Tim Walz (D) will have ordered the Minnesota National Guard to deploy to assist civilian law enforcement authorities in protecting life, limb, and property in the face of violent protests, looting, and other acts of anarchy.
The trial of the four officers is expected to begin in March and last at least eight weeks. KSTP noted that the Guard has been planning – likely in conjunction with state emergency management, the governor’s office, and state law enforcement – since July.
“It is a big deal,” Rohweder said, KSTP reported. “It’s one of those things where we have to be prepared for that kind of operation and change the paradigm of our thinking to make sure that we’re prepared at any moment’s notice to activate that kind of large scale force.”
The report said that a similar number of Guard personnel are expected to deploy as did over the summer.
KSTP adds:
Under the current plans, the mission is to protect citizens and property. Rohweder confirmed to 5 INVESTIGATES that parts of the plan have already been executed, including moving equipment and vehicles so they’re in prime position.
The trial of the four former MPD officers, which is anticipated to run eight weeks, is currently scheduled to begin in early March. On Monday, the attorney for Derek Chauvin asked the court to push back the trial for additional time to prepare.
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But if the judge keeps the current schedule, Walz could issue an executive order activating the guard weeks ahead of time in February, according to the timeline laid out in Operation Safety Net.
The deployment planning says nothing about whether the officers will be found guilty or innocent, only that a ‘wrong verdict’ in the eyes of those who convicted them in the court of public opinion five minutes after Floyd died will no doubt provide another spark – and an excuse – to riot.
