For the last few days, “nice Minneapolis” has been the center of violence in the US. I can hardly believe it, even now. I decided to stop feeling sad and help clean up.

These pictures tell the story of today, and recent days, better than I can write it. The story starts best by clicking the picture on the left below, of my bike and yellow kitty-litter pail panniers.

Many know that I made panniers out of kitty litter pails. I heard they needed pails for cleanup, so I brought some extra kitty-littler pails, along with a snow shovel.

The funny part of my kitty-litter panniers faded fast when I saw what happened to Minnapolis, a city I love.

This is the first place I helped clean up.

Another view from the first place I helped clean up.

And yet another view of the place, notice smoke that’s still rising.

Traffic lights are in the middle of this picture.

This was the first building that was burned.

This Target was looted.

This is the entry-way to the Target that was looted.

This was an academy for kids.

My friend Jody Rioux who gave me the idea to clean up.

The sign says, “Danger Building Will Fall.”

The back tire of this bike is melted.

Remember this picture from earier? Take a close look at the mess on the sidewalk.

Today, we cleaned up that sidewalk.

The next place I helped was at a post office.

Everyone just helped and worked together, using one of my kitty-litter pails.

A few people were handing out treats and water.

The trees were in the way of debris.

We cut the trees and carried them away. Jody Rioux is in the foreground.

Remember this picture of the mess?

Here’s what the mess looked like when we were done.

And now, businesses are preparing for what might happen tonight, by boarding up windows.

More windows boarded up for what might happen tonight.

Messages on the boards support George Floyd, possibly to keep tonight’s rioters from breaking the boards and windows beneath.

The message on the left tells tonight’s rioters that minorities own this business.

More preparation for another riot.

Messages on these boards tell rioters that people live here.

Another message to rioters who may show up tonight, let’s hope they don’t.

I do not and will not condone riots, but I also do not want to forget how this started. George Floyd was handcuffed, saying he could not breath, and the officer knelt on his neck for at least 5 minutes–while other officers walked nearby.

I do feel better about cleaning up, but after thinking more about it, the source problems still exist. You can decide for yourself what those problems are. Regardless of your choice, we better start finding solutions. Otherwise more riots will happen. Why would they not?