Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the council’s plan to study a pedestrian mall. City hopes to reopen street nearly 5 years after murder.

Minneapolis will continue exploring a plan to turn the intersection where a police officer murdered George Floyd into a pedestrian plaza after the City Council on Thursday overrode the mayor's veto of the project.

The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday overrode Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of a legislative directive to further explore converting George Floyd Square into a pedestrian mall. A 9-4 supermajority kept the possibility of a pedestrian mall alive despite the mayor urging council members to finalize a plan and avoid further delays.

Following a Minneapolis City Council vote to override Mayor Frey’s veto, community activist Al Flowers criticized council members for “ignoring the Black community” and “playing politics” in regards to the future of the area surrounding George Floyd Square.

The debate over developing George Floyd Square centers around whether it should be turned into a pedestrian plaza or whether cars should be allowed through.

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.

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.