George Floyd's funeral services to be held in three states over 5 days, Biden likely to attend one in Houston
Funeral services for George Floyd, a black father-of-two who died at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis last week, are scheduled to take place over the course of the coming week. According to a CNN report on Tuesday, the first memorial service for Floyd is set to be held on Thursday in Minneapolis, where he was killed, family attorney Benjamin Crump said. The service is set to take place from 1 pm to 3 pm at North Central University. According to the outlet, Reverend Al Sharpton is expected to deliver a eulogy for Floyd. A second service will be held in North Carolina -- where Floyd was born -- two days later.
In an announcement on Facebook Tuesday, Hoke County Sheriff Hubert A. Peterkin said the service will be held at the Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters. The public will be able to view the ceremony from 11 am to 1 pm, followed by a family-only service at 3 pm. "As the Sheriff of Hoke County, I’m asking on behalf of the Floyd family for those who plan on attending the viewing to be respectful to the sensitivity of the family’s time of grief," Peterkin wrote on Facebook. "The memorial is about the life that Mr. George Floyd lived and this is a time to embrace the family with expressions of love and kindness." According to Peterkin, guests will be required to wear a mask in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and there will be "no protesting allowed" at the event.
The final memorial service is set to be held in Houston Texas on Monday, June 8. It is the state where Floyd grew up. According to a statement from he Fort Bend Memorial Planning Center, a public visitation will be held from 12 pm to 6 pm at the Fountain of Praise, where Reverend Dr. Remus E. Wright will deliver a speech in his memory. This will be followed by a private service the following day at 11 am.
Crump revealed during an interview on PBS Newshour Tuesday that 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden will also attend the Houston service. "We understand Vice President Biden will be in attendance," Crump said. However, the plans have yet to be finalized, per CNN.
According to a TMZ Sports report on Monday, retired boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has offered to pay for all three services.
Floyd's family organized a GoFundMe campaign after his death last week and raised over $10 million to "cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist our family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George."
Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, wrote on the campaign page that a "portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund."
George Floyd died last Monday after former police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for several minutes despite Floyd's repeated pleas that he couldn't breathe. Chauvin was subsequently charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on Friday. Three other officers who were involved in the arrest were also fired, but have not been charged in Floyd's death.