'Now is the time for racial justice in America,' Joe Biden says as George Floyd's family finally lays him to rest
Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, said now was the time for “racial justice” as George Floyd’s family was finally able to lay him to rest.
Mr Biden, who met with the Floyd family in person in their hometown of Houston, Texas, on Monday but appeared via video at the funeral service on Tuesday, said “we cannot leave this moment thinking we can turn away from racism that stings our very soul.”
“Why in this nation do too many black Americans wake up knowing they could lose their life in the course of just living their life,” the former vice president told the congregation at the Fountain of Praise church in southwest Houston.
“Now is the time for racial justice. That’s the answer we must give to our children when they ask why. Because when there’s justice for George Floyd we will truly be on the way to racial justice in America.”
Mr Biden, who also met Mr Floyd’s six-year-year daughter, Gianna, added: “Then as you said Gianna, your daddy will have changed the world.”
Mr Biden made no mention of politics, but other speakers took aim at President Donald Trump, who has ignored demands to address police brutality and racial inequality and has called on authorities to crack down hard on lawlessness.
Reverend William Lawson, who helped pioneer the civil rights movement in Houston, called for the White House to be “cleaned out” and urged the public to vote.
“Is this going to be like so many other movements - a moment of anger and rage and back to business as usual? You could say that because the prejudiced and the bigoted are not going to change. But we can do some things to change them. Obviously the first thing we have to do is to clean out the White House,” Rev. Lawson said as those gathered applauded.
“That has to come closer to us than Washington. Our states and counties and cities have to have good leadership. That means that we have to go and vote,” he said, adding that his death should not be a fleeting movement, but a catalyst for real change.
Rev. Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, renowned religious and rights advocate, echoed Rev. Lawson in a powerful eulogy, criticising the president for stoking racial tensions.
"The president talks about bringing in the military, but he did not say one word about 8 minutes and 46 seconds of police murder of George Floyd," said Rev. Sharpton. "He challenged China on human rights. But what about the human right of George Floyd?"
“You’re sitting there thinking about how to stop the protests rather than how to stop the brutality,” he said, in what appeared to be a reference to Mr Trump. “You’re calling your cabinet in trying to figure out how it’s going to affect your vote rather than how it’s going to affect our lives. Wickedness in high places.”
More than 500 mourners packed into the church a little more than two weeks after 46-year-old Mr Floyd was pinned to the pavement by a white Minneapolis police officer who put a knee on his neck for what prosecutors said was 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
Most were dressed in white, as a celebration of Mr Floyd’s life, the family said, rather than a mourning of his death.
Hundreds gathered outside in the nearly 40 degree celsius heat to pay their respects to the son of Houston. Some had travelled for hours to be there.
Memorials for Mr Floyd were held last week in Minneapolis, where he lived in recent years, and Raeford, North Carolina, where he was born.
The services have drawn the families of other black victims whose names have become part of the debate over race and justice — among them, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin.
His family took turns to speak at the pulpit.
"Third Ward, Cuney Homes, that's where he was born," Mr Floyd's brother, Rodney, told the church. "But everybody is going to remember him around the world. He is going to change the world."
An emotional Brooke Williams, Mr Floyd's niece, said: "That officer showed no remorse when my uncle's soul left his body. "Laws were put in place for African-Americans to fail. Someone said Make America Great Again, but when has America ever been great? No justice, no peace.”
Among the guests were Sylvester Turner, Houston’s mayor, actors Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum, and Floyd Mayweather, the champion boxer, who has reportedly covered the family’s funeral costs.
Mr Turner announced he would be signing an executive order banning chokeholds as well as requiring police officers to give warning before shooting a suspect. "George took his last breath so we all could breathe," he said. "What folks meant for evil, we honour for good."
Mr Floyd was laid to rest with his mother, Lacendra, known as “Cissy”, whose name is tattooed on his chest, at Houston Memorial Gardens in Pearland.
“Go on, get your rest now, George. Rest with your mama,” Rev. Sharpton finished by saying. "We gonna fight on.”
