More than two weeks after George Floyd took his last breath under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, the 46-year-old ‘gentle giant’ has been laid to rest alongside his mother in Texas.
Floyd died on May 25 after officer Derek Chauvin, 44, kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Chauvin was fired, arrested and is being held on $1.25million bail.
Floyd’s death launched a nationwide call for defunding the police and prompted Black Lives Matter protests globally.
He was laid to rest at the Houston Memorial Gardens in Pearland next to his mother, Lacendra, who he called out for when he was struggling for breath just before he died.
Earlier on Tuesday, family, friends, and guests packed the Fountain of Praise Church as they said their last goodbyes during an emotional service.
The hearse carrying Floyd’s body followed by his family headed to the cemetery Tuesday afternoon with a police escort.
Members of the New Black Panther group were seen on site standing guard surrounding Floyd’s hearse as the procession exited the church. Floyd traveled the last mile of his journey to his resting place in a horse drawn carriage.
Scroll down for video
George Floyd’s golden casket is on its way to its final resting place following a powerful funeral service in Houston, where loved ones shared their memories and community leaders demanded his death lead to widespread change. Pallbearers pictured carrying Floyd’s body out of the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston on Tuesday
Rev. Al Sharpton looked on as pallbearers hauled Floyd’s golden casket into the hearse following a powerful service
The hearse and a following train of family members and loved ones were escorted by police to the Houston Memorial Gardens in Pearland where he’ll be laid to rest next to his mother’s grave
Hundreds of people waited outside for Floyd’s horse-drawn carriage to pass by following his funeral on Tuesday
Standing under umbrellas in Texas’ scorching heat, hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to Floyd
The horse-drawn carriage carrying the casket with Floyd’s body is seen passing by hundreds of mourners on Tuesday
The carriage is seen on its way to Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in Pearland, Texas, on Tuesday, following Floyd’s funeral
Some people cheered while others raised their fists to salute Floyd as his body was passed them after his funeral
Powerful images showed hundreds raising their fists as the horse-drawn carriage headed to the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in Pearland, Texas
Police officers were seen walking next to the horse-drawn carriage carrying Floyd’s body on Tuesday
Floyd was laid to rest after being transported in a horse-drawn carriage (pictured) a mile to the cemetery on Tuesday afternoon
More than 500 guests attended his private service including the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean and Eric Garner and celebrities like Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum and NFL star J.J. Watt and Congressman Al Green.
Rev Al Sharpton delivered a stirring sermon, calling out President Donald Trump for focusing more on ending protests than police brutality and blasting the NFL for silencing peaceful protesters like Colin Kaepernick.
During the service, Rev William ‘Bill’ Lawson called for the White House to be ‘cleaned out’ and urged the public to vote as hundreds of mourners gathered to say goodbye to the beloved father.
Lawson shared powerful remarks at the private service in Floyd’s hometown of Houston, demanding that Floyd’s death not be a fleeting movement, but a catalyst for real change.
‘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,’ Lawson said as the crowd erupted in applause.
‘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,’ the pastor emeritus of Wheeler Baptist Church urged.
Rev William ‘Bill’ Lawson shared powerful remarks at the private funeral service in Floyd’s hometown of Houston, demanding that Floyd’s death not be a fleeting movement, but a catalyst for real change saying: ‘Obviously the first thing we have to do is to clean out the White House’
George Floyd, 46, was laid to rest in his hometown of Houston today in a private ceremony attended by celebrities like Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum and NFL star J.J. Watt. Floyd’s casket is seen being brought into the Fountain of Praise church earlier on Tuesday
Floyd’s extended family wore white to the special service, many wiping tears from their eyes as the service opened with gospel music and was filled with messages from reverends, poetry readings, and a message from Joe Biden
His niece Brooke Williams, who called him Perry, shared a powerful declaration saying: ‘As long as I’m breathing, justice will be served for Perry’
Floyd’s six-year-old daughter is seen holding onto her mother Roxie Washington at Floyd’s funeral Tuesday, which was attended by his family and friends, wrapping up five days of public memorials in Minneapolis, North Carolina and Houston
Standing together: Rev. Al Sharpton called on special guests including Eric Garner’s mother Gwen Carr (left) and Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton (right)
About 500 guests were invited by the Floyd family, including political leaders and celebrities like actors Channing Tatum (back left) and Jamie Foxx (right) to the service on Tuesday. Even as the funeral was private hundreds gathered outside the chapel to watch from afar
Houston Texans NFL star J. J. Watt had a moment of silence before Floyd’s casket on Tuesday at the emotional service
Floyd, 46 died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into the back of his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds in a horrific video that sparked protests across the country
The service began with gospel music and Sharpton walking down the aisle with Floyd’s family’s members, all dressed in white to celebrate Floyd’s life.
Other attendees included Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Attorney Benjamin Crump, Slim Thug, Leela James, Paul Wall, Floyd Mayweather, Congressman Al Green and Bishop James Dixon, according to KHOU11.
Houston Texans football player JJ Watt, chairman and chief executive officer of the Houston Texans Cal McNair, and Cincinnati Bengals star DJ Reader were also seen at the funeral.
In Sharpton’s opening remarks he asked the family members of Arbery, Pamela Turner, Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Jean to stand to uproarious applause from attendees.
‘Lives like George will not matter until somebody pays the cost for taking their lives. This was not just a tragedy. It was a crime,’ Sharpton said in his eulogy.
‘If four black cops had done to one white what was done to George… they would send them to jail,’ he added.
In a clear attack on Trump, Sharpton said: ‘You’re sitting there thinking about how to stop the protests rather than how to stop the brutality.
‘You’re calling your cabinet in trying to figure out how its going to affect your vote rather than how it’s going to affect our lives. Wickedness in high places.
‘You take rubber bullets and tear gas to clear out peaceful protesters and then take the bible and walk in front of a church and use a church as a prop. Wickedness in high places.
‘You ain’t been walking cross that street when the church didn’t have the boards up. You weren’t putting up no Bible when Arbery was killed in Brunswick, when Taylor was killed in Louisville,’ he said.
Sharpton touched on the NFL’s declaration of support for Black Lives Matter and how Kaepernick was ostracized from the league after he took a knee in protest of police brutality.
‘Oh, its nice to see some people change their minds. Head of the NFL said yeah, maybe we was wrong. Football players, maybe they did have the right to peacefully protest.
‘Don’t apologize, give Colin Kaepernick his job back. Don’t come with some empty apology. Take his livelihood. Strip a man down of his talents,’ Sharpton said in his sharp rebuke.
‘You sorry? Then repay the damage you did to the career you stood down because when Colin took a knee he took it for the families in this building. We don’t want an apology, we want it repaired,’ he added.
He praised attorney Crump as ‘black America’s attorney general’.
‘Ben Crump has stood and fought for many cases…We should not take for granted when black lawyers take these cases like Crump has.
‘They are targeted by their bar associations. They are targeted by people who are envious and jealous. We need civil rights lawyers who are here for civil rights, not for civil settlements. That’s why I give him recognition,’ he said on Crump.
The funeral card for George Floyd’s funeral pictured above
Crump has taken high profile cases including the killing of Arbery and represented the family of Trayvon Martin in the George Zimmerman case.
Presumptive democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden shared a moving video message at the service where he declared, ‘now is the time for racial justice’.
‘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. As I said to you privately, we know you will never feel again.
‘To George’s children and grandchild: I know you miss your dad and granddad. To Gianna, as I said to you when I saw you yesterday you’re so brave, daddy’s looking down and he’s so proud of you…I know you have a lot of questions, honey.
‘No child should have to ask the question that too many black children have had to ask – why? Why is daddy gone?
‘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.
‘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. Then as you said Gianna, your daddy will have changed the world.’
At the start of Tuesday’s service Revered Dr Mary White opened with a prayer, referencing Floyd’s cry for his mother as he struggled under the knee of White Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin.
Presidential hopeful Joe Biden shared a moving video message at the service where he declared, ‘Now is the time for racial justice’
‘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. As I said to you privately, we know you will never feel again,’ Biden said in the video recorded message
‘We thank you for the life of George Floyd, oh God. That at a moment he called out for his mama, we believe that the ears of mamas across this nation reared up. That the ears of mamas across this world heard him cry even though for one mama, all mamas began to wail. We began to wail for our children. We began to wail for our grandchildren. We wail for men across this world because of one mama’s call,’ she prayed.
At the funeral it was announced that the President of Ghana would permanently mount Floyd’s name on a wall at the Diaspora African Forum in the W.E.B. Du Bois Center in Ghana.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner spoke before the attendees at the funeral saying the city attorney is drafting an executive order that bans chokehold in the city of Houston. He says he’ll sign that order immediately when he returns to City Hall.
He also proclaimed June to hereby be celebrated as ‘George Perry Floyd Day’.
Family members of Floyd and close friends then took to the stage to share stories about Floyd. His niece Brooke Williams, who called him Perry, shared a powerful declaration saying: ‘As long as I’m breathing, justice will be served for Perry.’
Security at the funeral was supplied by the brothers with the Nation of Islam and the Houston police department.
‘Lives like George will not matter until somebody pays the cost for taking their lives. This was not just a tragedy. It was a crime,’ Reverend Al Sharpton said in his powerful eulogy
Rep Al Green, D-Texas speaks as family and guests attend the funeral service for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church saying: ‘George Floyd was not expendable. This is why we’re here’
At the start of Tuesday’s service Revered Dr Mary White opened with a prayer, referencing Floyd’s cry for his mother as he struggled under the knee of white Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin
Singer Ne-Yo performed a heartfelt song for Floyd. He said: ’50 states are protesting at the same time. Change the world for the better. So I just personally want to thank George Floyd for his sacrifice so that my kids could be aight. I appreciate the sacrifice my brother’
LaTonya Floyd was overcome with emotion while speaking about her brother George Floyd during the service
Rodney Floyd puts an arm around his brother Philonise Floyd as they listen to the song ‘Oh, How Precious’ during the funeral
Rev Al Sharpton, who will deliver the eulogy, entered the Fountain of Praise church in white followed by Floyd’s family members
Sharpton pictured speaking with Quincy Mason Floyd, the son of George Floyd, before the start of the funeral
Floyd’s family and friends entered the church wearing white following Sharpton into the service
Eric Garner’s mother Gwen Carr pictured center right in a white jumpsuit as mourners listened to a musical performance at the start of the service
The service opened with gospel music as mourners trickled into the chapel to celebrate Floyd’s life on Tuesday
Sharpton (right) sits with the family of George Floyd near the casket of Floyd during the funeral service
Zsa Zsa Floyd, George Floyd’s sister, raises her hand and places a hand to her heart at the start of the service
Terrance Floyd, brother of George Floyd, pictured arriving to the funeral wearing a face mask with his brother’s name on it
Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, pauses at his casket to pay his respects at the Houston funeral
City officials closed the streets within a mile of the cemetery, but supporters can still watch the procession.
On Tuesday morning Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a shared moment of silence for his constituents in honor of Floyd saying: ‘In honor of the funeral for George Floyd, we ask all Minnesotans to spend 8 minutes and 46 seconds in silence at 11am this morning.’
As of Tuesday morning, fences were placed along Cullen Boulevard to allow people to pay their respect to Floyd. While city officials say they do not know how many people will arrive, they are prepared for a massive crowd.
On Monday more than 6,300 people attended his public viewing ceremony Monday at Fountain of Praise church including political leaders Texas Gov Greg Abbott, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson and others.
The funeral services comes after five days of public memorials in Minneapolis, North Carolina and Houston.
On Monday, under a blazing Texas sun, mourners wearing T-shirts with Floyd’s picture or the words ‘I Can’t Breathe’ – one of the other things he cried out repeatedly while pinned down by the police officer – waited for hours to pay their respects.
Floyd’s body, dressed in a brown suit, lay in an open gold-colored casket. Shortly after the memorial ended, Floyd’s casket was placed in a hearse and escorted by police back to a funeral home.
Congressman Al Green pictured wearing a mask and gloves arriving to the funeral at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston
Mourners break down in tears at the casket of Floyd as his extended family enters the chapel on Tuesday
Loved ones were overcome with emotion upon reaching Floyd’s casket and sharing their goodbyes at the service
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez takes a knee before Floyd’s casket and bows his head to pay his respects at the service
Mourners pictured sharing a moment of silence at Floyd’s casket at the start of the moving funeral service
Members of the Texas Southern University Police Department pause at the casket bearing the remains of George Floyd in the chapel on Tuesday playing their hands to their hearts
Harris County District Attorney Kimm Ogg closed her eyes and paused for a moment at the casket of George Floyd on Tuesday
The first mourners trickled into the chapel and paid their respects at Floyd’s casket Tuesday morning
Paying respects: Police officers with the Texas Southern University police saluted the casket of George Floyd as he was brought into the Fountain of Praise Church on Tuesday
Never forgotten: Texas Southern University police officers saluted Floyd’s casket as it was brought in the for the funeral
The service for Floyd was held at the Fountain of Praise Church at 11am local time, where family and friends paid their final respects. Following the gathering, Floyd’s body will be carried home in a horse-drawn carriage and laid to rest next to his mother at the Houston Memorial Gardens in Pearland
As the hearse drove away, 39-year-old Daniel Osarobo, a Houston resident who immigrated from Nigeria, could be heard saying, ‘Rest in power. Rest In Peace.’
‘I’ve been stopped by police. I understand the situation. I can only imagine,’ Osarobo, who works as an engineer in the oil and gas industry said. ‘What if it was me? What if it was my brother? What if it was my sister? What if it was my son?’
Those were questions many black Americans have asked not just in recent weeks, but for decades.
Floyd’s death sparked international protests and drew new attention to the treatment of African Americans in the U.S. by police and the criminal justice system.
In the past two weeks, sweeping and previously unthinkable things have taken place: Confederate statues have been toppled, police departments around America have rethought the way they patrol minority neighborhoods, legislatures have debated use-of-force policies, and white, black and brown people have had uncomfortable, sometimes heated, discussions about race in a nation that is supposed to ensure equal opportunity for all.
Calls for ‘defunding the police’ have cropped up in many communities, and people around the world have taken to the streets in solidarity, saying that reforms and dialogue must not stop with Floyd’s funeral.
Floyd’s casket seen being placed in the chapel as bystander’s watch on at Tuesday’s funeral service
His gold casket pictured being set up for the funeral service at the Fountain of Praise Church service. On Monday more than 6,300 people attended his public viewing ceremony Monday at Fountain of Praise church including political leaders Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson and others
Floyd’s gold casket pictured being set up ahead of the funeral on Tuesday in Houston, Texas
Floyd’s casket pictured being delicately polished ahead of the funeral, the culmination of a long farewell to the 46-year-old whose death has changed America
The hearse carrying the coffin pictured when it first arrived to the church for Floyd’a funeral service on Tuesday
His death has also reshaped the presidential race. To be re-elected, President Donald Trump must rebound from one of the lowest points of his presidency, with recent polls showing that 8 in 10 Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction and even spiraling out of control. The president got a boost late last week with a better-than-expected jobs report, but he’s struggling to show consistent leadership on multiple fronts, including the nationwide protests against police brutality.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Joe Biden met with Floyd’s family Monday, according to a photo posted on Twitter by the Rev. Al Sharpton. Biden will provide a video message for Floyd’s funeral service.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also met privately with Floyd’s family on Monday, according to the Texas Tribune.
Hundreds of people gathered on the path outside the chapel to watch the funeral from afar. A member of the New Black Panthers yells as he confronts a mourner during Tuesday’s funeral
Members of the New Black Panther Party pictured attending the funeral for George Floyd, standing outside of the chapel