乔治·弗洛伊德为期五天的三州最后之旅于周二在休斯顿结束,他一生的大部分时间都在这个城市里度过。
成千上万的哀悼者,包括老朋友和家人,聚集在赞美之泉教堂参加最后的葬礼。当抬棺者将弗洛伊德的金色灵柩抬上过道时,许多人穿着黑色面罩,分开坐在长凳上。
2020年6月9日,在休斯顿的赞美之泉教堂举行的葬礼上,乔治·弗洛伊德的兄弟菲洛尼丝·弗洛伊德在棺材前得到安慰。
当家人走向棺材,最后一次表达他们的敬意时,他们崩溃了。
“我会非常想念我哥哥的,”乔治·弗洛伊德的妹妹拉托尼娅·弗洛伊德流着泪说。"我感谢上帝给了我,我自己的超人."
宗教领袖、福音歌手和其他庆祝者通过祈祷、诗歌和歌曲与弗洛伊德的亲属分享他们的哀悼。
2020年6月9日,抬棺者将棺材抬进休斯顿的赞美之泉教堂,为乔治·弗洛伊德举行葬礼。
“我想让你知道我仍在为你祈祷。我想让你知道,上帝已经把他自己交给了你,”在他读《新约》之前,这位牧师告诉弗洛伊德的家人。
一幅描绘46岁的弗洛伊德的画被放在布道坛后面,画中有天使的翅膀和光环。他在城市的第三区长大,在那里他受到朋友和家人的喜爱。
2020年6月9日,休斯顿,赞美之泉教堂,一名男子在为弗洛伊德举行的葬礼上画出乔治·弗洛伊德的肖像。
他们经常称这个6英尺6英寸的男人为“温柔的巨人”
“他是个讨厌的小流氓,但我们都喜欢他,”弗洛伊德的姑姑凯瑟琳·麦基说。“我只想感谢今天在座的所有母亲。拥抱他们,爱他们,因为我们不知道什么时候会到来。”
弗洛伊德在休斯顿的杰克·耶茨高中踢过足球,并在1992年参加了州冠军赛。高中同学艾薇·麦格雷戈(Ivy McGregor)表示,学校社区对这一损失深感悲痛。
“乔治·弗洛伊德给杰克·耶茨高中留下了爱、忠诚和服务的遗产,”她说。
弗洛伊德15天前在明尼阿波利斯死于四名警察之手,这引发了全世界对种族不公正和警察暴行的抗议。
当德雷·泰特演唱《一个改变即将来临》时,这些抗议的视频剪辑在大屏幕上放映在蒙太奇过程中,安热·希尔兹用白色颜料在黑色画布上创作了一幅弗洛伊德的大素描。
弗洛伊德的侄女布鲁克·威廉姆斯发表了热情洋溢的悼词,痛斥逮捕弗洛伊德并将他钉在地上的四名警察。她还不无隐晦地挖苦了特朗普总统,特朗普因在经历抗议的城市推行严厉的警察行动而遭到抨击。
2020年6月9日,在休斯顿,乔治·弗洛伊德的葬礼上,乔治·弗洛伊德的侄女布鲁克·威廉姆斯与家人交谈。
“有人说,‘让美国再次变得伟大’,但美国什么时候变得伟大过?”威廉姆斯欢呼着说道。“你不应该感到这种痛苦,没有人应该感到这种痛苦。”
2020年6月9日,星期二,在休斯顿,菲洛尼斯·弗洛伊德(右)在赞美之泉教堂参加他哥哥乔治·弗洛伊德的葬礼。
弗洛伊德的最后一句话是“我无法呼吸”,一个每个人都应该铭记在心的词。
“当你呼吸的时候,我们和这个家庭在一起,我们和你一起呼吸,”她说。
弗洛伊德与他在休斯顿的家人和朋友保持密切联系,并与他6岁的女儿吉安娜和她的母亲罗克西·华盛顿保持密切联系。据朋友和家人说,他计划把他们带到明尼阿波利斯全职工作。
2020年6月9日,休斯顿,乔治·弗洛伊德的女儿吉安娜·弗洛伊德和罗克西·华盛顿一起参加乔治·弗洛伊德的葬礼。
他仍然活跃在社区,特别是他的教堂,并帮助组织活动,包括圣经研究和篮球比赛。
“我所想的就是他喊妈妈的时候,”弗洛伊德的哥哥菲洛尼丝·弗洛伊德说。“每个妈妈都有这种感觉。”
包括阿尔·夏普顿牧师、美国众议员阿尔·格林、前休斯顿市长安妮丝·帕克、杰米·福克斯、查宁·塔图姆和休斯敦德州球员J.J瓦特在内的几位政要出席了会议。夏普顿发表了一篇激烈的演讲,谴责领导人和警察部队几十年来对美国黑人的歧视。
副总统乔·拜登在仪式上通过视频发表讲话,表达他的哀悼,并呼吁为美国黑人做出改变。拜登在1972年的一场车祸中失去了妻子和女儿,他在视频中向吉安娜发表了讲话。
“你真勇敢。爸爸在往下看,他为你感到骄傲,”他说。
2020年6月9日,休斯顿,美国前副总统乔·拜登在赞美之泉教堂参加乔治·弗洛伊德的葬礼时,通过视频连线发表讲话。
拜登说,弗洛伊德的死对美国黑人来说太常见了。
“为什么在这个国家,有太多的美国黑人醒来时知道他们可能会在过自己的生活时失去生命?”他说。
2020年6月9日,国会议员阿尔·格林进入赞美之泉教堂参加乔治·弗洛伊德的私人葬礼。
休斯顿市长西尔维斯特·特纳也向家人表达了哀悼,并表示他将通过行政命令立即在他的城市进行改革。
“在这个城市,我们将禁止扼制和扼制……你必须在拍摄前用尽所有的选择,”他说。
葬礼结束后,弗洛伊德将被安葬在皮尔兰的休斯顿纪念花园,他的母亲西西旁边。弗洛伊德的尸体得到了警方的护送,最后一英里是用马车运送的。
葬礼标志着周四在明尼阿波利斯开始的纪念庆祝活动的结束,其中包括在弗洛伊德出生的北卡罗来纳州的一个活动。
2020年6月9日,乔治·弗洛伊德的家人来到休斯顿的赞美之泉教堂参加弗洛伊德的葬礼。
2007年,作为2009年认罪协议的一部分,弗洛伊德被指控武装抢劫并被判处五年监禁。出狱后,弗洛伊德为了更好的工作机会搬到了明尼阿波利斯,并做了几份工作,包括在一家餐馆当保镖。
5月25日,一名便利店店员拨打了911,报告说弗洛伊德用了一张20美元的假钞来支付香烟费用。四名警察,德里克·肖万、托马斯·莱恩、亚历山大·库昂和图绍接了电话,在他的车外逮捕了弗洛伊德。
当肖万把弗洛伊德放在地上,把他的膝盖放在弗洛伊德的脖子上将近九分钟,而弗洛伊德在死亡前说“我无法呼吸”时,几个摄像头捕捉到了这次逮捕。这些警察被开除出警队,随后全部被捕。
肖万被控二级谋杀和二级过失杀人罪,其他三人被控二级协助和教唆重罪谋杀和二级协助和教唆过失杀人罪。
Family, friends gather at George Floyd's funeral service in Houston
A three-state, five-day final journey for George Floyd ended Tuesday in Houston, the city he called home for most of his life.
Thousands of mourners, including longtime friends and family members, gathered for the final funeral services at The Fountain of Praise church. Many wore black face coverings and sat apart in the pews as pallbearers brought Floyd's gold-colored casket up the aisle.
Philonise Floyd, brother, of George Floyd is comforted in front of the casket during the funeral on June 9, 2020, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston.
Family members broke down as they approached the casket and paid their respects one last time.
"I’m going to miss my brother a whole lot," LaTonya Floyd, George Floyd's sister, said through tears. "I thank God for giving me, my own personal Superman."
Religious leaders, gospel singers and other celebrants shared their condolences with Floyd's kin through prayers, poems and songs.
Pallbearers bring the coffin into The Fountain of Praise church in Houston for the funeral for George Floyd on June 9, 2020.
“I want you to know I’m still praying for you. I want you to know that God has made himself available to you," the Rev. Gusta Booker told Floyd's family before he read from the New Testament.
A painting depicting Floyd, 46, with angel wings and a halo was placed behind the pulpit. He grew up in the city's Third Ward, where he was loved by friends and family alike.
A man draws an image of George Floyd during the funeral service for Floyd at The Fountain of Praise Church on June 9, 2020, in Houston.
They often referred to the 6-foot, 6-inch man as a "gentle giant."
"He was a pesky little rascal, but we all loved him," Kathleen McGee, Floyd's aunt, said. "I just want to thank all of the mothers who are here today. Just hug them and love them because we don’t know when the time will come."
Floyd played football for Houston's Jack Yates High School as a tight end and was part of the team that went to the state championship in 1992. Ivy McGregor, a high school classmate, said the school community has been deeply saddened by the loss.
"George Floyd has left a legacy of love, loyalty and service to Jack Yates Senior High School," she said.
Floyd's death 15 days ago in Minneapolis at the hands of four officers set off worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
A montage of videos of those protests was shown on a big screen while Dray Tate sang “A Change is Going to Come.” During the montage, Ange Hillz created a large sketch of Floyd's face with white paint on a black canvas.
Floyd's niece Brooke Williams gave a passionate eulogy chastising the four officers who arrested Floyd and pinned him to the ground. She also took a not-so-subtle dig at President Trump, who has come under fire for pushing for tough police action in cities that are experiencing protests.
Brooke Williams, niece of George Floyd, speaks with the rest of the family, during the funeral for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise Church on June 9, 2020, in Houston.
"Someone said, 'Make America great again,' but when has America ever been great?" Williams said to cheers. "You shouldn’t feel this pain, no one should feel this pain."
Philonise Floyd, right, attends the funeral service for his brother George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Houston.
Floyd's final words were "I can't breathe," a term McGregor said everyone should take to heart.
"We stay with this family as you breathe, we breathe with you," she said.
Floyd stayed close to his Houston family and friends and kept in close contact with his daughter, Gianna, 6, and her mother Roxie Washington. He was planning on bringing them to Minneapolis full-time, according to friends and family.
Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, sits with Roxie Washington as they attend the funeral service for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church, June 9, 2020, in Houston.
He remained active in the community, particularly in his church, and helped organize events including Bible studies and basketball tournaments.
"All I think about is when he was yelling for momma," Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, said. "Every momma felt that."
Several dignitaries were in attendance including the Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Rep. Al Green, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum and Houston Texans player J.J. Watt. Sharpton gave a fiery speech chastising leaders and police forces for their decades of discrimination against black Americans.
Vice PresidentJoe Bidenspoke via video at the ceremony, offering his condolences and calling for change for black Americans. Biden, who lost his wife and daughter in a car accident in 1972, addressed Gianna during the video.
"You’re so brave. Daddy’s looking down and he’s so proud of you," he said.
Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks via video link as family and guests attend the funeral service for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise Church on June 9, 2020, in Houston.
Biden said Floyd's death was all too common for black Americans.
"Why, in this nation, do too many black Americans wake up knowing that they could lose their life in the course of just living their life?” he said.
Congressman Al Green enters The Fountain of Praise church for the private funeral for George Floyd on June 9, 2020, in Houston.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also shared his condolences with the family and said he would make immediate reforms in his city through executive orders.
"In this city, we will ban chokeholds and strangleholds…you must exhaust all alternatives before shooting," he said.
Following the funeral, Floyd will be buried in Houston Memorial Gardens in Pearland, next to his mother, Sissy. Floyd's body received a police escort and for the final mile was brought in a horse drawn-carriage.
The burial marked the end of memorial celebrations that began on Thursday in Minneapolis and included an event in North Carolina, where Floyd was born.
George Floyd's family arrives for Floyd's funeral service at the Fountain of Praise Church on June 9, 2020, in Houston.
In 2007, Floyd was charged with armed robbery and sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea deal in 2009. After he was released from prison, Floyd moved to Minneapolis for better job opportunities and held several jobs including working as a bouncer at a restaurant.
On May 25, a convenience store clerk called 911 and reported that Floyd had used a phony $20 bill to pay for cigarettes. Four police officers, Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, answered the call and arrested Floyd outside of his car.
The arrest was captured on several cameras as Chauvin placed Floyd on the ground and put his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd said "I can't breathe" before going lifeless. The officers were fired from the force and all were subsequently arrested.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges, while the other three were charged with second-degree aiding and abetting felony murder and second-degree aiding and abetting manslaughter.