The last words of the posthumously famous George Floyd have flown in the sky as part of an emotional and inspirational tribute thanks to black artist Jammie Holmes.
Five cities across the country were the centers of attraction. In Detroit and New York, the statements “Please I can’t breathe” and “They’re going to kill me” were flown.
In Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas, “My stomach hurts,” “My neck hurts” and “Everything hurts”, three statements Floyd struggled to get out while under the weight of Derek Chauvin, were flown.
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Holmes posted the photos of the tribute via his Instagram during the weekend, saying he felt the need to contribute to “social conscience and protest meant to bring people together in their shared incense at the inhumane treatment of American citizens”.
The Dallas-born artist added: “The deployment of Floyd’s last words in parts of its whole across the country underlines a need for unity and the conviction that what happened to George Floyd is happening all over America”.
Holmes, an acclaimed painter and activist, took to his personal website to give further context on the use of aerial media.
“The use of sky media to recount Floyd’s final words presents a contrast to the noise of digital media and employs a form of communication that is most often used by the privileged to announce sporting events, marriage proposals, or promote consumption,” said Holmes.
Meanwhile, an autopsy sanctioned by the family of Floyd concluded that he died of “asphyxiation from sustained pressure”, implying that disgraced officer Derek Chauvin is responsible for the homicide.
The team of experts hired by the deceased’s family as well as the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Chauvin’s knee pressed into the back of Floyd’s neck thereby cutting blood flow to the brain.
This new report contradicts what the county’s examiner had earlier announced as the cause of death. On Monday, the office of medical examiner said Floyd had died from “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.”
