Hundreds of people in Houston gathered in the city’s Third Ward, where George Floyd grew up, to pray for his family and honor his memory.
People gathered Sunday at Cuney Homes in the Third Ward on a basketball court to pay tribute to Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody last week. At one point, white Houstonians knelt down and asked for forgiveness from the black community for years of racism.
“We need to show a symbol that we truly do apologize for what’s been done to our black brothers and sisters. With Colin Kaepernick taking a knee, it tore us apart, and I thought we’re going to take a knee to unite us,” said Bobby “Trey 9” Herring, the founder of the nonprofit organization Eyes On Me.
The black people in attendance accepted the apology and kneeled with the white people in prayer.
“When you look at the diversity here and people’s hearts here, that’s a reflection of the city of Houston. That’s a reflection of people’s true hearts,” Herring added.
Floyd died on Memorial Day after now-fired police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
Following his death, peaceful protests were conducted to demand justice and to end police brutality. However, riots soon broke out in nearly all major cities across the country, with people looting, destroying property, and assaulting others, including police officers.
Floyd’s family has condemned the violence, calling only for peaceful protests to honor him.
“Don’t tear up your town. All of this is not necessary because if his own family and blood is not doing it, then why are you?” Terrence Floyd, Floyd’s younger brother, said. “If his own family and blood are trying to deal with it and be positive about it and go another route to seek justice, then why are you out here tearing up your community? Because when you’re finished and turn around and want to go buy something, you done tore it up. So now, you messed up your own living arrangements. So just relax. Justice will be served.”
