Two prominent Minneapolis bars have closed because of the continued violence in the city since the death of George Floyd.
The After Midnight Group announced on Friday that it would be closing two bars because they have been unable to guarantee the safety of their customers and employees as violence continues to rage in Minneapolis. The group owns Cowboy Slims, a downtown bar located near the stadium where the Minnesota Twins play, and Cowboy Jacks, a bar in the city’s uptown neighborhood.
The group had reached out to the city last week after a shooting that injured 11 and killed one took place outside its uptown location. They asked for details on the city’s plan to curb the violence, but the city instead said that the bars should “educate patrons and staff on the lack of safety provided and the dangers that lie outside the doors.”
In a statement announcing the closures, the After Midnight Group said it had been “experiencing the violence, vandalism and unsafe working conditions firsthand, and without receiving assurances of safety from city officials.” Michael Juberian, a regular at Cowboy Slims, told WCCO that he doesn’t feel safe in the city.
“You don’t feel safe,” Juberian said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. You don’t know who’s around the corner. It’s a weird time.”
Minneapolis has turned into Oakland pic.twitter.com/c1f9mIckfN
— Barflaan Tedoe (@The_Barftender) June 20, 2020
The group has not announced plans to reopen. More than 250 employees have been laid off.
Minneapolis witnessed weeks of protests against police brutality since Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after an officer knelt on his neck for several minutes during an arrest. Some of the protests devolved into riots featuring vandalism, arson, and looting.
The Minneapolis City Council responded to the chaos by vowing to abolish the city’s police department. Council President Lisa Bender said the goal of the council is a “police-free future.” Since Floyd’s death, more than 100 people have been shot in Minneapolis.
