George Floyd funeral in Houston - AOL News

The funeral for George Floyd takes place Tuesday at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, where 500 friends, family and assorted luminaries gathered to mourn the black man whose killing by police sparked protests around the world and calls to end systemic racism in America.

On Monday, thousands of mourners wearing protective masks and gloves waited in line outside the megachurch in blistering heat to pay their last respects at Floyd’s final public memorial.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, groups of 15 people at a time were allowed inside the Fountain of Praise Church to view Floyd’s body, which was laid in a gold-colored casket paid for by boxer Floyd Mayweather. Many of the mourners wore T-shirts bearing Floyd’s likeness or the words “I can’t breathe,” the phrase Floyd uttered as Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, pinned him to the ground by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25.

Among those who paid their respects to Floyd on Monday were Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Former Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Houston to privately meet with Floyd’s family. Biden did not attend the viewing nor was he expected to attend Tuesday’s funeral because he did not want his Secret Service detail to disrupt the services. (Biden will reportedly record a video message to be played at the funeral.)

Hundreds more gathered at a candlelight vigil Monday night at Jack Yates High School, Floyd’s alma mater.

Tuesday’s funeral will be limited to 500 attendees. After the service, Houston Police will escort Floyd’s body to the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in nearby Pearland, Texas. For the last mile of the procession, his casket will be taken by horse-drawn carriage.

Floyd will be laid to rest next to his mother, Larcenia Floyd.

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Source : aol.com/news