April 14 - Minnesota Nation Guard Again at the Capitol

Minnesota National Guard soldiers use the basement of the Capitol as a staging area as part of Operation Safety Net before receiving their assignments around the building and grounds. The National Guard will support Operation Safety Net with approximately 3,000 soldiers on duty to assist local authorities to maintain the peace around the metro area, primarily in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center and St. Paul. About 100 National Guard members were stationed in Brooklyn Park to guard sites and help maintain peace following a Brooklyn Center police officer involved killing of Daunte Wright. In March, National Guardsmen were set up outside the Hennepin County Government Center as part of a unified command to protect lives, property and allow for peaceful protests during and after the trial of a Minneapolis police officer for the killing of George Floyd.

Guardsmen settle in at the staging area around the L’Etoile du Nord Vault in the basement of the Capitol.

A Guardsman settles into a niche in the L’Etoile du Nord Vault.

Guardsmen get comfortable before receiving their assignments around the Capitol building and grounds.

A Guardsman checks his cell phone while staging in the Capitol basement.

Guard members wait in the basement of the Capitol while staging for assignments.

Guardsmen play cards to pass the time while staging in the basement of the Capitol.