US protests: George Floyd farewelled at funeral in Houston

As mourners gathered for a final goodbye to George Floyd, calls echo for his death to give rise to broader change.

The hands of the funeral home team push the casket of George Floyd into the hearse after the funeral service at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston.

As mourners gathered in Houston for a final goodbye to George Floyd, calls echoed in the halls of the Fountain of Praise church for the end of his life to mark the beginning of broader change.

Former Vice President and presidential nominee Joe Biden, who privately met with Mr Floyd’s family Monday, told them in a recording played at the funeral that he has watched in awe as they have risen to the burden of having to grieve in public and use their grief to help better the world.

Directly addressing Mr Floyd’s daughter Gianna, 6, Mr Biden said no child should have to ask the questions she has had to ask.

“Now is the time for racial justice — that’s the answer we must give to our children when they ask why,” he said. “Because when there is justice for George Floyd, then we will truly be on our way to racial justice in America. And then, as you said Gianna, your daddy will truly have changed the world.”

Mr Floyd, 46-years-old, grew up and lived much of his adult life here, where residents have gathered since Monday to mourn his death. He will be buried later Tuesday near his mother.

Mr Floyd was killed in Minneapolis on May 25, after being arrested for allegedly trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill. A white police officer, Derek Chauvin, is seen in widely circulated video pressing his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck as Mr Floyd says he can’t breathe and calls out for his mother.

Mr Chauvin, who was immediately fired, has been charged with second-degree murder and three other former police officers involved in the arrest are facing charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder. They haven’t yet entered pleas.

LaTonya Floyd speaks during the funeral for her brother, George Floyd, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston.

Protesters nationwide took to the streets after his killing demanding change; more protests are planned in some cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The service filled the church with music, for what co-pastors Remus and Mia Wright vowed would be a homegoing celebration of “foot-stomping, toe-tapping, singing hallelujah, praising God.” Attendees sang, cheered and raised their hands in the air.

Rev Al Sharpton, the civil-rights leader, entered the church through a scrum of media in the morning, ready to give a eulogy to Mr Floyd. Gianna slipped in through the back, bright blue dress and painted pink nails, to bid her father a last goodbye.

A pile of flowers in the front wilted in the heat. The mourners poured in, dignitaries and family alike, wearing their best whites and blacks, filling the Fountain of Praise church.

US Rep Al Green of Texas told mourners “we have a duty not to allow this to be like the other times” and a duty not to walk away from the funeral without taking the next step. “George Floyd deserved the dignity and respect that we afford all individuals simply because they are children of a common God,” he said.

“Third Ward, Cuney Homes, that’s where he was born at,” Floyd’s brother, Rodney, told mourners. “But everybody is going to remember him around the world. He is going to change the world.”

The funeral capped six days of mourning for Floyd in three cities: Raeford, North Carolina, near where he was born., Houston, where he grew up, and Minneapolis, where he died.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he would be signing an executive order to ban chokeholds and require police officers to intervene if fellow officers are behaving improperly, among other policing measures.

Arnell and Bert Evans, close family friends, said they hope the funeral will bring some closure to a stunning two weeks of grief and wonder following Mr Floyd’s killing and outbursts of fury and support worldwide in response.

The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during the funeral for George Floyd.

“It’s been very difficult — anxiety levels intense, a lot of pain,” said Ms Evans.

A memorial here on Monday drew hundreds of mourners who waited in line to pay their respects to Mr Floyd. Later that evening, a vigil was held at the Jack Yates High School football field, where hundreds of alumni wore T-shirts bearing the face of their lion mascot and the name of the alumnus whose dying breaths made him famous.

Here in Houston’s Third Ward, a low-income, predominantly black area south of downtown, Mr Floyd wasn’t just a name shouted at a protest. He was a class of ‘93 graduate, a neighbour, the football and basketball player they looked up to, the goofy guy who made them laugh.

“Once a lion, always a lion! We love you George Floyd!” they shouted together, pumping fists into the air.

To Terrence McClanahan, Mr Floyd was the friend and fellow football player three grades ahead he looked up to, whom he would rib about a dropped pass or stumble whenever Mr Floyd swung by to visit his girlfriend next door to Mr McClanahan.

Mr McClanahan was at work for Shell on the morning of his 42nd birthday last month when he logged on to Facebook and saw friends posting “Did y’all see what happened to Floyd?” Then he saw the video. He couldn’t finish watching it.

“To see something happen to someone you know personally, it hurts different,” Mr McClanahan said.

Mr McClanahan wasn’t surprised by the turnout at the football field vigil; that’s Yates, he said. But he was blown away to see the fury around the world in response to Mr Floyd’s killing. He has to hope it has an impact, he said.

Brooke Williams the niece of George Floyd speaks during the funeral service.

“I hate that my brother had to fall, but look at what’s happening,” he said. “It’s mind-blowing to see people who had no knowledge of him showing so much love.” To Darnese Lazemby, 28, Mr Floyd was her best friend’s uncle, a “jolly giant” who was quick with a joke and always willing to lend advice or a few bucks for snacks, she said. She remembered his joy as they celebrated former President Obama’s re-election together in 2012. In death, Mr Floyd was the subject of a town-hall address Mr Obama gave last week, urging Americans to use this moment for real change.

Pallbearers carry the casket following the funeral for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston.

At the vigil Monday, Yates community members lifted candles and lit-up cellphones in memory. A musical tribute to Mr Floyd set to the tune of “A Change Is Gonna Come” played over photos of Mr Floyd and footage of the massive global protests his killing spurred. Mr Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, addressed the school community from the stage, calling the turnout a blessing and urging them to vote, not just for president but for all offices.

“This is bigger than George right now,” he said. “We’re gonna stop everybody from being afraid of the police.”

The Wall Street Journal