The families of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Botham Jean and Ahmaud Arbery were given a standing ovation at the funeral of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police sparked protests against police brutality and racial injustice across America.
A service for Floyd was held at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston on Tuesday, drawing a crowd of 500 guests including celebrities Jamie Foxx, actor Channing Tatum, NFL star J.J. Watt and Congressman Al Green.
Among those in attendance were also the families of other black victims in high-profile killings by cops or vigilantes whose deaths have highlighted America’s problem with institutional racism.
Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, was recognized during George Floyd’s funeral in Houston on Tuesday
Reverend Al Sharpton asked the relatives of each victim to stand, before they were met with uproarious applause by the audience. Pictured: Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin puts her hands together in prayer during the service
During his opening remarks, Reverend Al Sharpton paid tribute to the families, asking relatives to stand up to uproarious applause from the audience.
Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton; Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr; the sister of Botham Jean, Allisa Charles-Findley; Michael Brown Sr; the family of Pamela Turner; and Marcus Arbery Sr each stood up one by one, prompting other mourners to stand up and clap out of reverence.
‘All of these families came to stand with this family because they know better than anyone else the pain they will suffer from the loss that they have gone through,’ Sharpton said.
He continued: ‘Lives like George will not matter until somebody pays the cost for taking their lives this was not just a tragedy. It was a crime.’
‘If four black cops had done to one white what was done to George … they would send them to jail,’ he added.
The father (in the yellow tie) of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot dead by two white men earlier this year, was also in attendance.
About 500 guests were invited by the Floyd family, including political leaders and celebrities like actors Channing Tatum (back left) and Jamie Foxx (right) to the service on Tuesday. Even as the funeral was private hundreds gathered outside the chapel to watch from afar
Floyd’s extended family wore white to the special service, many wiping tears from their eyes as the service opened with gospel music and was filled with messages from reverends, poetry readings, and a message from Joe Biden
Sharpton also praised attorney Ben Crump as ‘black America’s attorney general’, who has taken on high profile cases including the killing of Ahmaud Arbery and represented the family of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
‘Ben Crump has stood and fought for many cases…We should not take for granted when black lawyers take these cases like Crump has. They are targeted by their bar associations. They are targeted by people who are envious and jealous. We need civil rights lawyers who are here for civil rights, not for civil settlements. That’s why I give him recognition,’ he said.
Floyd’s funeral on Tuesday is the culmination of a long farewell to the man whose death has rocked America and fueled calls for police reform.
Grammy-winning singer Ne-Yo said George Floyd’s death was a sacrifice that ‘changed the world’ before performing during his memorial service.
‘To George’s family and friends: Jill and I know the deep hole in your hearts when you bury a piece of your soul deep in this Earth. As I said to you privately, we know you will never feel again,’ Biden said in the video recorded message
George Floyd, 46, was laid to rest in his hometown of Houston today in a private ceremony attended by celebrities like Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum and NFL star J.J. Watt. Floyd’s casket pictured being brought in at the Fountain of Praise church on Tuesday
Ne-Yo shed tears while singing a rendition of G.C. Cameron’s ‘It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.’
The singer paused on a few occasions to collect himself during his performance.
‘Fifty states are protesting at the same time,’ he said. ‘This man changed the world. He changed the world for the better. I would like to personally thank George Floyd for his sacrifice, so that my kids could be all right later on. I appreciate the sacrifice. I genuinely do.’
Former vice president Joe Biden also spoke via video at the service, a day after he met privately with his family.
Biden said in his recorded remarks that ‘when we get justice for George Floyd we will truly be on our way to racial justice in America,’ adding a message to Floyd’s daughter by saying, ‘Then, Gianna, your daddy will have changed the world.’
Following the gathering, Floyd’s body was carried home in a horse-drawn carriage and laid to rest next to his mother at the Houston Memorial Gardens in Pearland.