George Floyd's funeral will take place in 'his city' Houston as his high school class holds vigil in his memory
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said that the body of George Floyd, the African-American man who died in Minneapolis when an officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes in an attempt to detain him, will be returned to Houston - his birthplace.
"This is our house. This is the same city that George Floyd grew up. And his body will be returning to this city. To his city," Turner said on Saturday, May 30, as he urged the people of his city to maintain peace during a weekend of protests and looting. Fort Bend Memorial Planning Center in Rosharon confirmed on Facebook that they are handling Floyd's services. Details for the funeral have not been released.
Well-wishers of Floyd's family stormed the comment section to offer their condolences for the victim. "My heart is deeply saddened by the passing of my friend Floyd to know him was to love him a very humble and respectful man always carried a smile on his face we will never ever forget you Floyd from the Bell family" one wrote, while another said, "I pray you get justice soon. This crap has been going on way too long. Time to put a stop to it. I hope our country now can see what happens if you are black and get involved with police. It’s wrong. It’s immoral. It shouldn’t be happening. They better go get the other 3 assholes that were accomplices to his death also. No justice- no peace."
A third wrote: "He was a hellva great footballer he played the game with a great zest for the game will always remember those games. My condolences to the Family and may you R.I.P. George Floyd..."
Floyd was a Houston native and was an alumnus of Jack Yates High School. The 1993 class held a vigil and walk at MacGregor Park for Floyd Saturday morning wearing Yates' school colors and shirts that read "I Can't Breathe." A number of other protests also took place, one of them for 11 hours where nearly 200 people were arrested during a rally in downtown Houston.
Turner added that the protesters, with their riots and violence, are losing the objective of the protests. "The focus needs to be on supporting and uplifting his family. And that's what I want to keep bringing this conversation to. George Floyd. It's not about these other individuals, who won't be a moment. It's about George Floyd, and justice for George Floyd," Turner said.
A fundraising campaign launched by the brother of George Floyd, Philonise Floyd, on GoFundMe has raised $5 million in three days, significantly surpassing its $1.5 million goal. The fundraiser was apparently established "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."
It added: "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."