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HOUSTON (mocsnews.com) – George Floyd’s body arrived in Houston on Monday June 8th, 2020. The 46-year-old’s death sparked a nationwide movement against systematic racism and police brutality.
On May 25, a Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes. Video footage captured by a bystander showed evidence of Floyd crying out for his mother and repeatedly stating he could not breathe. Almost three of these minutes Floyd was non-responsive.
A public memorial service was held on Monday in Houston Floyds hometown. Around 6,000 people went to the memorial with mourners wearing shirts with Floyd’s picture, text “Black Lives Matter” or “I can’t breathe”. Others brought cards and flowers while wiping tears as they paid their respects. Shortly after the memorial ended, Floyd’s casket was escorted back to a funeral home.
Friends and family said their final goodbyes at his funeral service. Floyd was buried next to his mother. The service started 45 minutes after its original start time as so many were in attendance. It consisted of powerful speeches by people like Brooke Williams Floyds niece.
Democrats unveiled new legislation on Monday, that if passed it would bring widespread reforms to police in the United States. The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 has more than 200 sponsors already. The bill calls for prohibiting the use of chokeholds, banning no-knock warrants and establishing a national registry to track misconduct.
