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'He touched so many hearts': Family, activists and politicians come together at George Floyd memorial service

REUTERS
REUTERS

The family of George Floyd and others including celebrities, civil rights activists and politicians gathered in Minneapolis for a memorial marking his death.

Speaking in front of a huge crowd outside the event on Thursday, Mr Floyd's brother Philonise paid tribute to the man whose death at the hands of the police has sparked days of furious protests around the world.

At the first service to be held over six days across three communities where Mr Floyd was born, grew up and died, Philonise said: "I loved my brother, we had so many memories together... everybody loved George... he touched so many people's hearts."

Mourners at the Frank J Lindquist sanctuary at North Central University wore masks and bumped elbows, rather than hug or shake hands at the event taking place in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the service, Mr Floyd’s body is going to Raeford, North Carolina, the state where he was born 46 years ago, for a two-hour public viewing and private service for the family on Saturday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey at the memorial service (REUTERS)
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey at the memorial service (REUTERS)

A public viewing will be held on Monday in Houston, where he was raised and lived most of his life, and a 500-person service on Tuesday will take place at The Fountain of Praise church.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, may attend the service, and other political figures and celebrities are expected as well. A private burial will follow.

At the memorial on Thursday, a small band and choir sang the gospel classic Goin’ Up Yonder as mourners gathered, while Rev Jesse Jackson entered and prayed for several moments over Mr Floyd’s golden casket.

George Floyd's girlfriend, Courtney Ross, attends the memorial service (REUTERS)
George Floyd's girlfriend, Courtney Ross, attends the memorial service (REUTERS)

Others followed his lead, including Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Projected above the pulpit inside the sanctuary was the blue and orange mural which has been painted at the site of a makeshift memorial in the neighbourhood where Mr Floyd died.

Giving a eulogy, Rev Al Sharpton said: "I want us to not sit here and act like we had a funeral on the schedule. George Floyd should not be among the deceased. He did not die of common health conditions."

Politicians and family members gathered at the memorial (AP)
Politicians and family members gathered at the memorial (AP)

He added: "This is the era to deal with policing and criminal justice.

"This is the time we won't stop... until we change the whole system of justice."

Mr Sharpton ended his eulogy with an eight minute and 46 second silence - the amount of time a white police officer pressed his knee on Mr Floyd's neck before he died on May 25.

"Think about what George was going through for those eight minutes, begging for his life," he said. "We can't let these things go. We can't keep living like this."

Mr Floyd’s final journey was designed with intention, Mr Sharpton said.

Artwork was projected behind the casket (AFP via Getty Images)
Artwork was projected behind the casket (AFP via Getty Images)

Having left Houston for Minneapolis in 2014 in search of a job and a new life, Mr Floyd will retrace that path.

“They collectively said we need to make the first memorial statement from the city he chose to go to make a living, that ended his life,” he said.

The farewells for Mr Floyd, who was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store, come as demonstrations across the US and around the globe continue.

Crowds gather outside the memorial (AP)
Crowds gather outside the memorial (AP)

Relative quiet continued for a second night following a decision by prosecutors to charge Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao - the three other Minneapolis officers at the scene of Mr Floyd’s death with aiding and abetting a murder.

The charge against Derek Chauvin, the officer at the centre of the case, was also upgraded to second-degree murder.

The attorney for Mr Floyd’s family, Ben Crump, called the additional charges against the officers “a bittersweet moment” and “a significant step forward on the road to justice”.

Mayor Jacob Frey, second from right, and First Lady Sarah Clarke, pause before George Floyd's casket (AP)
Mayor Jacob Frey, second from right, and First Lady Sarah Clarke, pause before George Floyd's casket (AP)

From Paris and London to Tel Aviv, Sydney, Johannesburg and Rio de Janeiro, Mr Floyd’s death has prompted demonstrations, with protesters decrying inequality, police brutality and other problems in their own countries.

Minnesota governor Tim Walz, said Americans need to “seize the moment” and confront the effects of racism, including unequal educational and economic opportunities.

“I think this is probably our last shot, as a state and as a nation, to fix this systemic issue,” he said.

In Minneapolis alone, more than 220 buildings were damaged or burned during the protests, with damage topping $55 milion, city officials said.

More than 10,000 people have been arrested across the US.