George Floyd Memorial Service Filled With Tears, Raised Fists And Calls For Change

44Views

June 9, 2020

TOPLINE

Today a public viewing was held in Houston for mourners to pay their respects to George Floyd, who was killed after a police officer held him to the ground with a knee to his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Mourner Charlene Thompson, of Houston, passes by the casket of George Floyd during a public … [+] visitation for Floyd at the Fountain of Praise church on Monday, June 8, 2020.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip, Pool

KEY FACTS

Mourners waited in a socially distant line outside of the Fountain of Praise Church in Floyd’s hometown of Houston, Texas, to pay their respects to Floyd in his final public memorial.

His casket was on view from 12 to 6pm ET Monday, with people lining up by 8:30am, according to the Daily Beast.

At Floyd’s casket, people raised fists—a sign for black power—knelt and made symbols of the cross, among other things.

Due to social distancing guidelines, only 15 people were allowed in the church at a time.

Nationwide, demonstrators took to the streets to protest the killing of Floyd while the service occurred.

Tomorrow at 11am ET, Floyd will be buried in Houston next to his mother after a private funeral with Rev. Al Sharpton to deliver the eulogy.

Crucial Quote

“George Floyd is going to change the arc of the future of the United States. George Floyd has not died in vain. His life will be a living legacy about the way that America and Texas responds to this tragedy,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said.