Checking in from Minneapolis

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I wanted to check in as it's been a while since I have and the last week has been pure pandemonium. On memorial day, Monday 5/25, a black man named Geroge Floyd was murdered in my city by a police officer, who knelt on the man's neck for 8 minutes, after he told the officer "I Can't Breathe". The man proceeded to die, I haven't heard if he died on the scene or died after ambulance transported him... Starting on Tuesday, large protests erupted all across the metro, including large groups where the male was killed (38th St/Chicago, in Minneapolis) and outside the 3rd Precinct of MPLS, Lake St/Minnehaha Ave in Minneapolis. What started as a peaceful protest, on Tuesday, turned into violent rioting. Items thrown at police, molatov cocktails, shots fired, rioters broke into the liquor store across the street and began looting, breaking glass, causing general chaos. This has been a theme every night, but seemed to be escalating. More destruction, small and large businesses, government offices, desecrated and lit on fire. There has been RUMOR that "out of state" extremists, both far-left and far-right extremeist "world-war-3" type groups have come in to incite violence and riots via the mob mentality and have been most of the ones responsible for inciting the violence. Several "out of state" vehicles have been spotted, many out-of-state folks have been arrested. The plus side is it seems like mostly BUSINESSES are being targeted, not individual homes (Unless you live in an apartment above a business, but...if so...a lot of people have been packing up and leaving town for the next couple days..) Other happenings: *As many have seen, the main officer Chauvin has been arrested and charged with 3rd degree murder/manslaughter. The other 3 are not in custody, to my understanding. *Looting and arson all across the metro area - small businesses and large businesses alike. Most of the action is happening across East Lake Street in South Mpls *National Guard has been called in to Minneapolis, it has been considered "a state of emergency". *Bus and train service (and bear in mind we are a metropolitan area, combined population of over 3.28 mill people) has been suspended "until further notice" due to the danger to employees and citizens. *There has been a 2000-0600 "curfew" implemented each night in cities across the metro area. Unless you are an essential worker/first responder. *Businesses across the metro area and into the suburbs have closed, mostly gas stations, grocery stores, Target stores, liquor stores, smoke shops...Many are closed and are "pre-boarded" up. As in, to prevent looting or breakage of windows, they are choosing to have their windows all boarded up and close their business until further notice. I believe almost every major city in the United States is experiencing protests, many of which are seeing the violence, arson, looting, that we are here in Minneapolis. My heart breaks for George Floyd and his family. My heart breaks for all persons of color who have sustained abuse, discrimination, police brutality - business owners, civilians who have been affected, the firefighters and medics, the 911 dispatchers, the police officers who are not the evil Derek Chauvins of the world but who continue to show up and wear the badge and try to protect the public. I fear for the safety of myself and my family, my co-workers, and it's difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel. How are you all holding up? Stay safe everyone.