Hours after crews work to reopen streets, makeshift barriers placed around George Floyd Square

People put up makeshift barriers around the area known as George Floyd Square just a few hours after city crews came in to start reopening the streets.

The intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis has been closed to traffic since George Floyd was killed last May, with a group of citizens manning the barricades.

How to proceed has become a sensitive and contentious issue.

The removal of the barricades around 4:30 a.m. Thursday came as a surprise to many, including some members of the Minneapolis City Council, who said they did not get any advance notice of the plan.

LIVE VIDEO: CAIR-MN, community members decry reopening of George Floyd Square

Thursday, city crews and members of a community-led group worked to remove barriers at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis

In an unannounced move, crews reopened the area to traffic.

A member of the group Agape Movement, described as a community security force in the area, said barricades were removed for security reasons as well as to promote healing in the community. The group member also said the memorial items in the area, such as the fist sculpture and flowers, will remain.

Members of Agape Movement said during a news conference Thursday that the group was part of negotiations with the city and law enforcement members.

Chauvin defense asks for lesser sentencing, proposes probation

On Wednesday, the defense attorney for ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin asked for a downward sentencing departure for his client. 

Documents filed in Hennepin County court propose probation and prison time equal to the time Chauvin has already served instead of the sentencing he is facing.

Chauvin was charged and convicted of second- and third-degree murder charges, as well as a second-degree manslaughter charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. 

"...the court must look to the facts. They all point to the single most important fact: Mr. Chauvin did not intend to cause George Floyd's death," the defense claimed in the filings submitted Wednesday