Owners of a Minneapolis diner that burned down during the George Floyd protests are suing Mayor Jacob Frey, saying his “inaction” led to an escalation in the violence that cost them their business.
Kacey White and Charles Stotts are seeking $4.5 million from Frey and the city after their Town Talk Diner & Gastropub on East Lake Street was repeatedly targeted by rioters following Floyd’s police-involved death on May 25.
The federal suit alleges that from that day until May 28, Frey and the city “continuously deviated” from crowd control policies put in place by the Minneapolis Police Department, National Guard and local leaders.
It accuses Frey of trying to initially “negotiate with and appease the rioters rather than give law enforcement the authority to confront criminal acts with enough force to restore law and order.”
“A primary responsibility of local elected officials is to protect the public,” said the suit, which was first reported by the Star Tribune. “The inaction on the part of Mayor Frey led to an increase in violence.”
Should be an easy win…
The same should happen in Portland and every other
city where mayors and city councils denied protection
from rioters and looters. Yes, insurance companies can
pay out for property loss (minus deductibles), but can’t
make up for the deep damages to reputations, to
longstanding customer relationships and the personal
aftermath of the senseless ruination of established
businesses. The leaders in these communities did more
than fail, they spewed lies and propaganda to justify
their actions and the criminal acts of others. They should
all be sued into oblivion.