Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday vetoed a City Council plan to create a pedestrian mall at the south Minneapolis intersection where George Floyd died under former police officer Derek Chauvin’s knee nearly five years ago.

Nearly five years since the murder of George Floyd, Minneapolis leaders are still considering what to do with the area surrounding where it occurred. Most recently, Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed a proposal that would create a pedestrian mall,

Last week, the City Council voted to have city staff further study a pedestrian plaza layout despite a previous survey showing it lacked support from immediate neighbors.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed the City Council’s plan to explore building a pedestrian-only mall at George Floyd Square, the intersection where an officer killed Floyd in 2020.

The National Mall never displayed a statue of Floyd. The claim originated on a satirical news website. Floyd was killed in May 2020 when then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. The incident was caught on camera and sparked worldwide protests.

Ward 9 City Council Member Jason Chavez fired back on social media, arguing the mayor has never reckoned with the trauma that the community has faced.

The Climate and Infrastructure Committee voted 4-2 to put the city’s plan “on ice.” Council member Katie Cashman said the plan could be reconsidered if the pedestrian design didn’t work out. But opponents say the decision will delay much-needed infrastructure upgrades.