On Thursday (June 4), the first memorial service was held for the late George Floyd at North Central University’s Frank J. Lindquist Sanctuary in Minneapolis. T.I., his wife Tiny, Kevin Hart, Ludacris, Tyrese, Tiffany Haddish, Will Packer and many more were in attendance for the beautiful ceremony.
Family attorney Ben Crump started the service with a powerful national criminal justice address. He stated that Floyd did not die from COVID-19, despite what reports said yesterday (June 3). “Racism and police brutality killed Floyd,” he said.
“When we fight for the George Floyds of the world — and more importantly the unknown George Floyds if the world — we are helping America be America for all Americans,” Crump continued.
Rev. Al Sharpton issued the eulogy during the service. “George Floyd’s story has been the story of Black folks,” he said. “The reason why we couldn’t be who we dreamed and wanted to be is because you had your knee on our necks. Get your knee off our necks!”
Sharpton then asked the attendees to stand and have a moment of silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time former officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck. During the moment of silence, Rev. Jesse Jackson yelled out, “I can’t breathe,” numerous times.
The next memorial service for Floyd will take place on Saturday, Jun. 6 in Raeford, North Carolina at the Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters. A public viewing will be held from 11 am to 1 pm ET and the memorial service will begin at 3 pm ET.
The third memorial service will be held on Jun. 8. A public visitation will take place at The Fountain of Praise on Hillcroft Avenue from 12 pm to 6 pm central time. On Jun. 9, the family will hold a private funeral service at the same location at 11 am central time.
Check out photos below.