5.06.2020 02:43
(Act. 5.06.2020 02:43)
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Pastor Al Sharpton made funeral speech for Floyd
© APA (AFP / Getty)
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Eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence: An emotional funeral service in Minneapolis commemorated the African American George Floyd, who was killed in a police operation in the US city. Relatives, friends and personalities such as civil rights icon Jesse Jackson attended the ceremony at North Central University. A golden coffin with Floyd’s body was laid out.
The Floyd family lawyer, Ben Crump, said the 46-year-old had not died of the coronavirus pandemic. “The other pandemic that we know all too well in America, the pandemic of racism and discrimination, killed George Floyd.” The funeral speech was given by the well-known pastor and civil rights activist Al Sharpton. He said the Floyd case symbolized centuries of black oppression in the United States. The whites have always “pressed their knees on our necks”. The worldwide protests would show that the time for change had come. It is worth noting that in some protests there were “more young whites than blacks” among the participants.
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After Sharpton’s speech, the ceremony participants paused for exactly eight minutes and 46 seconds – the length of time a white policeman had pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck, despite all requests from the 46-year-old to let him breathe. The police are now charged with “second degree murder”, and the three other police officers involved in the arrest were released and arrested. Floyd was arrested after allegedly buying cigarettes using counterfeit money. His death, recorded in a cell phone video, sparked horror and outrage in the US and around the world, and led to protests against police violence and racism.
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There was an enormous influx at the “#BlackLivesMatter” rally on Thursday afternoon in Vienna. According to the police, around 50,000 people gathered for the demonstration. “Black lives matter!”, “No justice, no peace!” and “I can’t breathe” came loudly at the Human Rights Square in Vienna. Flashing “BlackLivesMatter” was also on a police escort vehicle. “We are tired, we are angry and we are afraid, but we are here,” cried Marie Noel, who moderated the rally.
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Celebrities from around the world were shocked by Floyd’s death. German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of “murder”. Duchess Meghan said what had recently happened in the US was “absolutely devastating”. Rapper Kanye West announced a million dollar donation to black victims of violence. West wants to support Floyd’s families, and $ 2 million in Afro-American Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor was killed by gunfire in February and March, CNN reported. West has also set up a training fund for six-year-old Gianna Floyd to fund schooling for the young daughter of the killed African American. Another fundraiser for the girl has raised more than $ 1.5 million.
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At a memorial service in New York, Floyd’s younger brother Terrence Floyd thanked for the general sympathy. “I thank God for all of you showing so much love to my brother.” Hundreds of people had gathered in Brooklyn and were moving toward Manhattan with posters and chants. “I’m proud of the protests, but I’m not proud of the destruction,” said Terrence Floyd. The ongoing demonstrations in America are largely peaceful, but there has also been violence and looting. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also spoke at the memorial event. George Floyd shouldn’t have died in vain, he said. “We have to make peaceful changes.”
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Floyd’s body is scheduled to be buried next Tuesday in Houston, Texas, where he grew up. Mourning ceremonies are planned in various cities beforehand.
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