With an emotional funeral service in Minneapolis, family and friends commemorated Black George Floyd, who was killed in a police operation. There were words with great symbolism – and there was silence for minutes.
By Torsten Teichmann, ARD Studio Washington
George Floyd’s story is a symbol of black oppression in America, civil rights activist Al Sharpton said at the Minneapolis memorial service.
“For over 400 years we could never be who we wanted to be or dreamed of being because you pressed your knee on the back of our neck.”
At the ceremony at North Central Catholic University in Minneapolis, a golden coffin with Floyd’s body stood in the center of the chapel. On television pictures you can see the mayor of the city, Jakob Frey, kneeling and crying in front of it.
“Pandemic of Racism and Discrimination”
Floyd had died of another pandemic than Corona, the family’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, said in his speech. The pandemic of racism and discrimination in America killed the 46-year-old.
Pastor Sharpton asked the visitors to the memorial service to pause for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Exactly the time George Floyd was pressed to the ground in Minneapolis with the cop’s knee on the back of his neck. Even when Floyd was passed out, the other officers involved did not intervene. Floyd died as a result of police violence at the scene.
FBI speaks of failure
Since then, young Americans in particular have been taking to the streets across the country. In the capital Washington yesterday, demonstrators knelt in front of the Lincoln Memorial in memory of the victim. And FBI chief Christopher Wray spoke openly of law enforcement failure for the first time at a press conference.
“George Floyd’s family is suffering like many families who have lost fellow human beings in the same way in the past few weeks. They are looking for a way forward. More specifically, the whole country is looking for a way forward. Because it is not just about George Floyd but all those who have been illegally killed in the past few years by people from whom they should actually be protecting. “
The FBI is investigating whether the fired police officers violated federal laws when they were used violently. Yesterday, the Minnesota Attorney General charged the suspect with malicious intent for deliberate homicide. Another three police officers have to answer for aid.
Hope for change
The funeral service in Minneapolis did not end without hope of change: when he saw demonstrations that more young white Americans are taking to the streets than just blacks, he knew that it was a different time, a different section, said Pastor Sharpton .
“And I’ve come to tell you, America, it’s time to stand up for accountability in the criminal justice system.”
George Floyd is due to be buried in Texas next week. In the city of Houston where Floyd grew up.
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