Rioters set dumpsters on fire, block traffic at Uptown intersection

Late Thursday night and into Friday morning, activists set dumpsters on fire and vehicles performed spinouts to block traffic through the intersection of Lake Street and Girard Avenue.

Dumpster fires in Uptown Minneapolis (CrimeWatchMpls/Twitter)

Left-wing activists continue to mark their territory at the Uptown Minneapolis intersection where Winston Smith was shot by a federal law enforcement team on June 3.

Late Thursday night and into Friday morning, activists set dumpsters on fire and vehicles performed spinouts to block traffic through the intersection of Lake Street and Girard Avenue.

Alpha News videographer Rebecca Brannon captured video of two dumpster fires in the street, a car doing spinouts directly in front of one fire, and Minneapolis police and SWAT team members moving in on protesters after 2 a.m. Friday morning.

Brannon said cops took action after protesters had been blocking the intersection for several hours. Tear gas was used, according to Crime Watch Minneapolis.

Last night’s incidents maintain the pattern of unrest at Lake and Girard, which activists took over early last week, making it the second “no-go zone” in Minneapolis. Protesters created makeshift barricades out of pallets, fencing, garbage cans, and even a Metro Transit bus shelter that several people dragged into the street.

One woman was killed while protesting at the site when a vehicle reportedly sped into the area, hitting a road blockade set up by protesters.

Police have attempted to remove the barriers, only to have protesters occupy the street again. Minneapolis leaders held a press conference last Tuesday to address the unrest, but it seems no action has been taken since then.

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Rose Williams

Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.