Church Leaders, George Floyd’s Family Gather for Prayer Service ahead of Trial (see pictures)

Civil rights leaders from across the
nation joined George Floyd’s family
members at a prayer service in
Minneapolis.
Rev. Al Sharpton and Ben Crump, the
civil rights attorney representing
Floyd’s family, were in attendance.
“I wanted them to see all these people
come,” Sharpton said during the event.
“I wanted them to know we’re with
them… we will be there with them until
the end.”
Floyd, a Black man, died in May after a
White police officer pressed his knee
into Floyd’s neck for about nine
minutes while Floyd lay on the ground
handcuffed. The arrest was captured
on video and widely viewed.
Police had been investigating whether
Floyd used a counterfeit bill at a nearby
store.
“My brother complied,” Philonise Floyd
said during the service. “He said, ‘I
can’t breathe.’ He said, ‘mama.’ He
said, ‘tell my kids I love them’…
Nobody should have to go through
that; nobody should have to endure
that.”
Family and supporters met Sunday at
the Greater Friendship Missionary
Church, where a choir sang and
speakers asked for justice for Floyd.
“I think about my brother every day,
every night. I think about his kids and
the next generation’s kids. I need
justice for George. We need a
conviction,” Philonise said.
Former Minneapolis police officer
Derek Chauvin has been charged with
unintentional second-degree murder,
third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The Sunday prayer service was held
ahead of Chauvin’s trial, which starts
Monday. Proceedings are expected to
continue for about four weeks.

“I have faith that he will get convicted,”
Philonise said. “Just like everybody
who’s seen that video because the
video is the proof.”
Three other officers who were present
during Floyd’s arrest will be tried
together in the summer. They are each
charged with aiding and abetting
second-degree murder and aiding and
abetting second-degree manslaughter.