The first memorial for George Floyd was held in Minneapolis on Thursday with several celebrities as well as politicians attending the somber event.
Floyd, 46, lost his life after a Minneapolis police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes, ignoring pleas from the victim that he could not breathe. During the memorial, attendants observed a moment of silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the time the officer spent kneeling on Floyd’s neck.
Speaking at the event, Rev. Al Sharpton, who acknowledged the presence of notable figures in attendance, called for an end to systemic racism in the United States.
RELATED STORIES
“The reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed of being is you kept your knee on our neck,” Sharpton said. “We don’t want no favors. Just get up off of us and we can be and do whatever we can be.”
The family’s attorney, Ben Crump, also said: “What we are doing is helping America be America for all Americans. George Floyd is the moment that gives us the best opportunity that I have seen in a long time of reaching that high ideal that this country was founded upon.”
Members of Congress, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, Rep. Ayana Pressley and Rep. Joyce Beatty just took a moment together and prayed over #GeorgeFloyd’s casket. #GeorgeFloydMemorial pic.twitter.com/8Uk3tWX7hu
— Aaron L. Morrison (@aaronlmorrison) June 4, 2020
Also joining the host of celebrities at the memorial were politicians and notable activists including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King III, Gov. Tim Walz, Reps. Ilhan Omar, Sheila Jackson-Lee and Ayanna Pressley, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, among others.
Take a look at the celebrities that were spotted at the memorial below:
Kevin Hart and Ludacris attend a memorial service for George Floyd in Minneapolis.
? Lucas Jackson / Reuters pic.twitter.com/JnOmGc3gHD— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 4, 2020
Celebrities including Tiffany Haddish, Tyrese Gibson, Will Packer, Kevin Hart, Ludacris and T.I. attended a memorial service for George Floyd at North Central University in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/rdn0Ez0AAc
— Carlos Gonzalez (@CarlosGphoto) June 4, 2020
Several musicians and actors have just arrived at the #GeorgeFloydMemorial. They include rappers T.I. (with his wife Tiny) and Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Will Packer and Marsai Martin. pic.twitter.com/PWXRWeiAgj
— Aaron L. Morrison (@aaronlmorrison) June 4, 2020
