05/27/2026
May 26, 2026 marked 10 years that the life of Birdell Beeks was taken from her family, friend Ma and community!
Today, she was honored by the Minneapolis City Council with the honorary naming of 21st Avenue North between Penn and Queen Avenues.
Today was a bitter sweet day as it was a reminder of the day Birdell was taken. But today was not a day to reflect on that but to honor who she was to a community and how the community stood with the Beeks family in 2016 in search for justice!
We did not get there alone!
The naming of 21st Avenue between Penn and Queen Avenues is a reminder that violence can take anyone so long as we continue to let shooters and violent offenders be free in our communities.
We hope that this is a reminder to the community that it could happen to anyone as Birdell was waiting at a stop sign when bullets were discharged from a firearm and stuck her. She was NOT the intended target, but the individual holding that firearm did not care who he put in harms way!
Birdell’s name should forever be remembered for the kindhearted, loving person, Mother, Grandmother and friend but also as a reminder that the violence needs to stop!
Today we unveiled BIRDELL BEEKS WAY! This is a reminder for those that were here 10 years ago and those that come later, her life mattered!
