In a decision that stunned activists and delighted local scrap metal dealers, the Minneapolis City Council voted 233-2 to remove the controversial George Floyd statue from its prominent downtown location. The overwhelming vote came after months of debate over whether the statue still served as a symbol of justice—or just a really expensive reminder of a past the city would rather forget.

“We Need to Heal,” Says Council

Council members who supported the removal cited a need to “move forward” and focus on the city’s future, rather than “constantly reliving 2020.” One anonymous official summed it up bluntly:

“Look, we renamed streets, we painted murals, we made speeches. At some point, you have to ask—are we actually helping anyone, or are we just patting ourselves on the back?”

The two dissenting votes came from Councilman Joe Barron and his assistant, who reportedly had “nothing better to do that day.”

What Happens to the Statue?

The statue, which cost taxpayers $11 million (including “equity consultant” fees and a special committee that met 417 times to discuss the shape of the nose), will be removed immediately. As for its final destination, the city has a few options on the table:

  • Auctioning it off – Early bids include a Las Vegas casino, an unnamed private collector, and a guy on Craigslist who wants to turn it into a barbecue smoker.
  • Relocating it to a museum – Officials are considering placing it in the “What Were We Thinking?” wing of the Minneapolis History Center.
  • Dropping it in a lake – A move inspired by ancient civilizations, who often sank statues when they were “over it.”

Mixed Reactions

Community response has been polarized, with some activists calling the move “an insult to everything we fought for” and others admitting “honestly, we kind of forgot it was there.”

Local businesses, many of which were boarded up following the unrest of 2020, largely support the decision. “If they’re removing things from that era, can we also get rid of the ‘Defund the Police’ policy? Because that one aged like milk,” said one business owner, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of having their Yelp page destroyed.

The Final Word

While some view the statue’s removal as a betrayal and others as long overdue, Minneapolis officials insist it’s simply time to “turn the page.” As one council member put it, “Statues don’t change lives. Good policies do. Maybe we should try that next.”