Sporadic vandalism breaks out in St. Paul near Allianz Field

This story has been updated. 

Sporadic vandalism has broken out in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, with some windows broken at a CVS and a pawn shop. University Ave., which is the main commercial thoroughfare of the neighborhood and home to the Green Line Light Rail Train, is home to dozens of small businessnes, many owned by immigrants and Black Minnesotans.

Just interviewed Kristy Pierce who is standing guard outside a black owned barbershop here on University Avenue pic.twitter.com/IUSCLJ0ffU

— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020

The Target store on University Ave. in St. Paul has been closed and is being guarded by a heavy police presence. Dianne Binns, former president of NAACP St. Paul, was angered by the unrest in her home city. “These people don’t give a damn about George Floyd … Leave this shit alone. These motherfuckers need to go home.”

Dianne Binns was president of the NAACP St. Paul from 2016-2018. She was here for the north Minneapolis riots in the 60s pic.twitter.com/AuuHIdAxZx

— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020

Crowds gathered there and a tense scene developed, with police eventually launching tear gas to disperse the crowd.

One more video from the scene. Strong breeze is carrying the smell of tear gas for hundreds of yards pic.twitter.com/QUNvnZeq52

— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020

Capitol Security sent a note to Capitol campus tenants — meaning state agencies— telling them to consider sending workers home “due to the rapidly evolving and uncertain nature of events now occurring in the city of St. Paul,” according to an email obtained by the Reformer.

Update: St. Paul Police report that a fire broke out at the TJ Maxx store on University Ave.

MPR reporter Tim Nelson reported on Twitter that the store had been looted hours before.