Houston: Hundreds of teary-eyed mourners wearing face masks attended the solemn funeral service of George Floyd, whose custodial killing led to widespread protests in the US and other countries against police brutality and racial injustice.
Floyd, an African-American, was laid to rest on Tuesday as hymns played in the background and his friends and family shared personal stories about him and made impassioned pleas for racial justice in America. Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 when a white police officer pinned him to the ground and knelt on his neck while the 46-year-old gasped for breath.
The footage, which went viral, showed Floyd pleading with the officer, saying he can’t breathe. The four police officers seen in the footage have since been charged.
Floyd’s death has sparked nationwide violent protests, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
His body arrived in Houston on Saturday for the funeral service amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. On Tuesday, a white horse-drawn carriage transported Floyd’s golden casket during the final mile of his funeral procession, towards the cemetery, to be buried next to his mother.
Braving the scorching heat, mourners started gathering outside the church early in the morning to have a last glimpse of Floyd.
The service was attended by over 500 mourners, who remembered him fondly. One of Floyd’s brothers, who attended the service, termed him as his own “personal superman.”
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.
During Tuesday’s service, a raw glimpse was provided of the man, whose death has sparked a global reckoning over police brutality and racial prejudice. (PTI)