A funeral schedule has officially been set for George Floyd, who died last week in police custody.
The first memorial service will be on June 4 in Minneapolis at North Central University’s Frank J. Lindquist Sanctuary with the Rev. Al Sharpton set to deliver a “national eulogy,” according to ABC News. The Floyd family’s attorney, Ben Crump, will also deliver a speech focused on criminal justice. The service will begin at 1 p.m. local time.
“It will be an important event, both for the city of Minneapolis, for Minnesota, and for the nation, to watch that process of celebrating a life that was taken in front of us, an opportunity for leadership,” Gov. Tim Walz said during a press conference on Monday.
Another memorial service will be held on June 6 in Raeford, North Carolina, the state where Floyd was born. It will be at Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters, and a public viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time with a memorial service starting at 3 p.m.
A funeral will be held on June 8 in Houston, Texas, where Floyd once lived. A public visitation is set at the Fountain of Praise on Hillcroft Avenue from noon to 6 p.m. local time.
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Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died last Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer restrained him during an arrest by pushing his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd can be heard in a viral video saying he couldn’t breathe from the pressure. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Floyd’s death sparked national outcry that led to a week of protests, many of which led to violent outbursts, in several cities across the country. Thousands of National Guard members have been deployed to help quell the unrest.
The officer who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck, Derek Chauvin, was fired from the department and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter last week. Three other officers involved with Floyd’s detainment were fired but have not been charged.
