Recently, Fox 9 News out of the Twin Cities, reported that all four defense teams have filed a motion to move the George Floyd trial out of Hennepin County due to jury concerns. The attorney for Thao has recommended the trial should be held in St. Louis County.  While the trial could financially recoup some lost income due to COVID-19 for the tourism industry with an influx of national media, it also brings the possibility of violent protests, as seen in Minneapolis this summer.

St. Louis County has three courthouses located in Hibbing, Virginia, and Duluth.  Hibbing and Virginia do not have the ability to easily accommodate the needs of, what we assume would be, 100s of national media personnel and potentially 1,000s of spectators, supporters, and protestors attending this trial. This would make Duluth the only logical location for the trial if held in St. Louis County, but the city would be greatly pressed to accommodate the number of people attending what could easily be a lengthy trial.

The Greater Duluth Business Association has created this petition to give the citizens of St. Louis County a voice on this critical decision, out of concern for the safety of our citizens, property owners, and business community.

Other counties, like Clay County, have spoken out against the trial being moved to their community. The Greater Duluth Business Association feels business owners and citizens of Duluth should have the right to voice their opinion on this issue. The petition created by the Association is a plea to Mayor Emily Larson, Police Chief Mike Tusken, and the Duluth City Council to let George Floyd Trial Judge, Peter Cahill, know that having this trial in Duluth would put too much at risk.