Hundreds of mourners filed into the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Texas, Tuesday to pay their final respects to George Floyd, a black man whose killing by police sparked protests around the world and calls to end systemic racism in America.Among those in attendance were the Rev. Al Sharpton, who will deliver the eulogy; Benjamin Crump, the Floyd family’s attorney; boxer Floyd Mayweather, who paid for Floyd’s gold casket; Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green; rappers Slim Thug and Paul Wall; R&B singer Leela James; and the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean and Eric Garner — unarmed black men who were killed by white assailants in high-profile cases.President Trump, whose response to the protests over Floyd’s death has been widely criticized, did not attend the service.Former Vice President Joe Biden, who traveled to Houston Monday to privately meet with Floyd’s family, did not attend Tuesday’s funeral because he did not want his Secret Service detail to disrupt the event. Instead, Biden recorded a video message that was played at the 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," Biden said. "As I have said to you privately, we know you will never feel the same again."For most people, the numbness you feel now will slowly turn, day after day, season after season, into purpose through the memory of the one they lost," he continued. "But for you, that day has come before you can fully grieve. And unlike most, you must grieve in public. It is a burden — a burden that is now your purpose to change the world for the better in honor of George Floyd.” The private service, which was carried live on television and online, was the fourth memorial in four days for Floyd, who died on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, kneeled on his neck as he lay handcuffed on the street. Video of the incident drew near-universal outrage.Earlier Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called on Minnesotans to hold a moment of silence in honor of Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time Chauvin held him pinned on the ground.After the service, Houston Police are expected to escort Floyd’s body to the Houston Memorial Gardens in nearby Pearland, Texas, for his burial. For the last mile of the procession, his casket will be taken by horse-drawn carriage. At the cemetery, Floyd will be laid to rest next to his mother, Larcenia Floyd._____Read more from Yahoo News:
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