HOUSTON (Reuters) – George Floyd, the African American whose death in cops custody stired worldwide demonstrations against bigotry, was extolled at his funeral service by religious and political leaders, family and friends on Tuesday in his home town of Houston.
The household of George Floyd concerns the podium to speak throughout the funeral for George Floyd, June 9, 2020, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston. Floyd passed away after being limited by Minneapolis Police officers on Might25 Godofredo A. Vasquez/Pool via REUTERS
” This is a home-going celebration,” Reverend Mia Wright, co-pastor at the Fountain of Praise Church, told mourners. Banners featured pop art illustrations of Floyd wearing a baseball cap with a halo above it.
American flags lined the streets outside the church. Flowers and bouquets were positioned around a photograph of Floyd.
Previous Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential prospect, spoke via a video recording.
” Why in this country do too many black Americans wake up knowing that they could lose their life in the course of just living their life?” Biden said. “We should not turn away. We can not leave this moment thinking we can once again turn away from bigotry.”
After the service, a funeral procession was due to travel about 15 miles (24 km) to Houston Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Pearland, Texas. His body was to take a trip in a horse-drawn carria