Long Her, an immigrant and business owner in St. Paul, Minnesota, recounted his devastating experience during the 2020 George Floyd riots to Fox News Digital. He witnessed the destruction of a nearby strip mall and decided to go home for the night, hoping the violence would not spread. The next morning, Her returned to find his store, New Fashion Tailoring and Alteration, completely ransacked. Rioters had broken through his reinforced door and stolen $200,000 worth of inventory. Despite multiple attempts to contact the police, Her received no response and was left to deal with the aftermath on his own.
Her criticized Gov. Tim Walz for his handling of the situation, particularly for taking several days to call in the National Guard. He expressed disappointment in Walz’s leadership during the riots, emphasizing the need for elected officials to prioritize the safety and well-being of their constituents. Her acknowledged that it took nearly two years for his business to recover financially from the damages inflicted during the riots, as many customers were scared to shop in the aftermath of the violence.
The business owner highlighted the increased safety concerns in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul following the 2020 riots and the onset of the pandemic. He noted a rise in shoplifting and theft due to a lack of police presence and an uptick in homelessness. Her stressed the importance of having adequate law enforcement to ensure the protection of businesses and individuals in the community. Minneapolis, a city at the forefront of the defund the police movement, has faced staffing shortages, with the police force shrinking by 40% over the last four years.
Despite the challenges faced by businesses in the twin cities, Her remains hopeful for the future but acknowledges the potential for further unrest. He emphasized the need for elected officials to be prepared and proactive in responding to situations of civil unrest, urging them to prioritize the protection of citizens and businesses. Her called for nonpartisan support for increasing police presence to maintain public safety and prevent another wave of destruction like the one seen in 2020.
Reflecting on the events of 2020, Her underscored the importance of being prepared for any future instances of lawlessness and unrest. He expressed a desire for leaders to prioritize the safety and well-being of the community by promptly deploying resources such as the National Guard to prevent further devastation. While Her remains hopeful for the freedom and opportunities in the United States, he recognizes the importance of proactive measures to prevent the kind of destruction witnessed during the 2020 riots from happening again in the future.
