Governor Tim Walz today signed Executive Order 20-65, implementing a temporary nighttime curfew that will provide safety for Minnesota residents from individuals who have engaged in unlawful and dangerous activity in recent days and threatened the security of lawful demonstrators and first responders.
“It’s time to rebuild our community and that starts with safety in our streets,” said Governor Walz. “Thousands of Minnesotans have expressed their grief and frustration in a peaceful manner. But the unlawful and dangerous actions of others, under the cover of darkness, has caused irreversible pain and damage to our community. This behavior has compromised the safety of bystanders, businesses, lawful demonstrators, and first responders. Now, we come together to restore the peace.”
“Minnesota, we’re hurting, and we need to begin the healing process,” said Lt. Governor Flanagan. “We need to bring peace to our streets and calm to our neighborhoods. This is an important step to ensure safety, so we can begin to rebuild and seek justice for George Floyd.”
The temporary curfew is scheduled from 8pm to 6am tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) night. During the curfew, no one may travel on Minneapolis and Saint Paul streets or public places, except for first responders, members of the media, people going back and forth to work, individuals seeking emergency care or fleeing danger, and people experiencing homelessness. Curfews are not limited to Minneapolis and St. Paul, mayors across the state can issue their own curfews.
All Minnesotans in Minneapolis and Saint Paul are urged to voluntarily comply. Peace officers will enforce the curfew and arrest those who refuse to comply.
The state has activated a Multi-Agency Command Center (MACC). The MACC will serve as a unified command of several different law enforcement and public safety agencies to support the state’s response.
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd died while in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department. The Walz-Flanagan Administration is committed to addressing the systemic inequities and discrimination that led to this incident and seeking justice.
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