That was the call from a member of the Bloods street gang in the direction of Mema’s handler. They, she and he, were at George “Perry” Floyd Square to support the activists while also engaged in their own protest. It was easy to arrive in that place, images of George “Perry” Floyd were everywhere on the international news and it was a relatively short drive for Brandon Alexander Rowell and his dog to make. On their first day, they tailed a caravan of SUV’s into what was discovered to be a lawless land. 

 

Activists, in the aftermath of Perry Floyd’s death had not only set a police precinct ablaze, but also looted the gas station directly across the street from where he took his last earthly breaths. The site had become ground zero in the revolution, where meetings had been held twice-daily for anyone and everyone looking to be informed. A “Free State” it was named, with several groups vying to harness the power of a place where police, for fear of their image making the news, wouldn’t enter. 

 

It was the end of April, 2021, and the two-by-two square blocks had been successfully held from the city of Minneapolis for almost a year. Friendly as it appeared when Mema and Brandon first entered, this encounter was all too different. “Sorry,” was the first word Brandon read that day when expecting to encounter open-minded individuals. Though just a board game set where the meetings took place, like everything else in that place it was a message. The activists weren’t present and there was a commotion off to the side in the gas station parking lot. A group of suspected gang members were in a circle riling each other up, with one suggesting his trigger finger was itchy.