People gather for a memorial service at North Central University in honor of George Floyd.
Minneapolis, United States:
Hundreds of mourners joined Thursday in Minneapolis in a moving memorial service for George Floyd, the black man killed by police last week, as civil rights leader Al Sharpton vowed that mass protests would would continue until “we change the whole justice system” in the United States.
Protests, largely peaceful and bleak, took place for a tenth consecutive night in cities from coast to coast, including New York – where thousands of people marched on the Brooklyn Bridge – as well than in Washington, DC, Seattle and Los Angeles, where curfews have been imposed. survey.
In Minneapolis, Floyd’s lawyer told mourners that he would find justice for the 46-year-old man who died in an arrest on May 25 when a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
“It was not the coronavirus pandemic that killed George Floyd,” said Benjamin Crump, who represents Floyd’s family. “It was this other pandemic. The pandemic of racism and discrimination.”
The crowd was silent for eight minutes and 46 seconds – the same time that officer Derek Chauvin spent with his knee on Floyd’s neck, a scene captured on video.
Floyd’s death has rekindled long-standing anger over police assassinations of African-Americans and sparked civil unrest nationwide, like never before in the United States since King’s assassination in 1968.
As the marches for racial justice spread beyond the United States and around the world, Sharpton said that Floyd’s death would not be in vain.
“It is time for us to stand up on George’s behalf and tell him to knee down,” said the 65-year-old Baptist pastor.
“You have changed the world, George,” he said. “We will continue to fight, George.”
“We will continue until we change the whole justice system.”
Floyd’s family members, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar were among hundreds of people who attended North Central University service.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo fell to his knees when the hearse carrying Floyd’s remains arrived for the service, broadcast live to a large crowd gathered at the flowery site where Floyd died.
“Necessary and late”
A vigil for Floyd also took place in New York and gathered thousands of people, including Floyd’s brother Terrence.
“White silence is violence,” says a sign. “Make sure America is no longer embarrassing,” read another.
In Richmond, protesters gathered around a statue of Robert E. Lee after Virginia governor Ralph Northam announced plans to remove the monument to the Confederate leader vandalized during the protests.
A Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, broke ranks with her party and revealed that she “was fighting” to support the re-election of President Donald Trump.
Murkowski said his decision was prompted by remarks by Trump’s former defense secretary James Mattis, who made a biting assessment of a president “trying to divide us” a day earlier.
“I thought General Mattis’ words were true and honest, necessary and expected,” Murkowski told reporters.
His comments mark a major break with Trump in the Republican camp, which has largely survived through various crises, including his dismissal and the current threat of using military force against the protests.
While condemning Floyd’s death, Trump has taken a firm stand against the protesters, saying they include many “bad people” and calling on governors to “dominate the streets”.
American civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against Trump on Thursday after security forces fired pepperballs and smoke bombs to free peaceful protesters outside the White House before the president went to the city. church for a photo op earlier this week.
“The president’s frankly criminal attack on protesters because he disagreed with their views shakes the foundations of our nation’s constitutional order,” said Scott Michelman, legal director of American Civil Liberties Union.
Low-flying helicopters were also used on Monday during an apparent show of force over demonstrators in Washington, DC.
Trump retorted on Twitter, writing: “The problem is not very low-flying helicopter pilots who want to save our city, the problem is arsonists, looters, criminals and anarchists, who want to destroy it ( and our country)! “
‘All inclusive’
Democrat MP John Lewis, who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. to fight segregation, echoed Sharpton’s hope that Floyd’s death could pave the way for “more change.”
The 80-year-old civil rights icon told “CBS This Morning” that the current protests seem “much more massive and inclusive”. He also condemned Trump’s threat to use military force against the protesters.
Some of the protests were marred by rioting and looting at first, but most have been peaceful since then.
Three of the four Minneapolis police officers who arrested Floyd for allegedly passing a counterfeit bill appeared in court on Thursday for the first time for helping and encouraging his murder.
The bond was set at $ 1 million each.
The fourth police officer, Chauvin, was charged with second degree murder and appeared before a judge last week.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
