Minneapolis was set to honor the life of George Floyd more than a week after the unarmed 46-year-old Black man became the victim of a police homicide following suspicions of a nonviolent crime. The first of three memorials to pay tribute to a father whose life was cut short by an overzealous police officer was scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) on Thursday at North Central University in Minneapolis.
The Rev. Al Sharpton was scheduled to deliver the eulogy at the event with attendance limited to family, friends “and invitees of the Floyd family, according to an announcement from North Central University.
The memorial was being held just one day after the main officer involved, Derek Chauvin, had his third-degree murder charges upgraded to second-degree. The other three officers involved were also charged on Wednesday with second-degree aiding and abetting murder. Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane along with Chauvin were all fired from the Minneapolis Poice Department on May 26.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the charges and vowed to work to achieve the former officers’ convictions that would show justice has been served.
The charges came amid national protests against police violence that were inspired in part by Floyd’s killing on Memorial Day. That was when Chauvin pinned him down by applying pressure on Floyd’s neck to the point he killed him — all while onlookers recorded the fatal encounter and repeatedly warned the officer as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe.
Source: Minneapolis Holds Memorial For George Floyd As Family, Friends Mourn A Life Cut Short
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