HOUSTON — Childhood friends of George Floyd, the Minneapolis man whose death touched off a national debate about systemic racism, paid their final respects to the Houston native on Monday.
Floyd’s casket arrived at Fountain of Praise church, where mourners braved 90-degree-plus heat to wait outside before coming in for their personal tributes.
Well-wishers, wearing masks as a precaution against the coronavirus, filed into two lines as ushers directed them to Floyd’s gold-colored casket where they said their goodbyes.
Most stood silently while bowing their head in front of the open casket, while some took a knee.
The bended knee has become a protest symbol, calling attention to how Floyd died and the movement against racism and police brutality launched in 2016 by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner were among those paying tribute at the church on Monday.
More than 200 people lined up before the doors opened, as Red Cross volunteers outside distributed water on one of Houston’s hottest days of 2020.
Some carried signs depicting Floyd’s face or wore T-shirts with his final words written on them: “I can’t breathe.”
Joey Lucio Sanjavier, a 26-year-old son of Mexican immigrants, used a black marker to write, “las vidas negras importan” — Black Lives Matter — on his mask.
“I feel like, as a Latino, I have to be here,” Lucio Sanjavier said, while waiting in line to view Floyd’s golden casket. “If we’re not here to support our black community, how are we going to stand up for our own rights?”
Dolly Spencer, 72, brought flowers.
“Mr. Floyd gave his life, not intentionally, but I wanted to pay my respects,” said Spencer, who is black. “And maybe we’ll get something out of this, that something bad will lead to something good.”
The viewing Monday precedes a final memorial service on Tuesday at the same church that’s being limited to 500 people, also a result of the pandemic.
Floyd, 46, died two weeks ago after he was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill and a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes, officials said.
That officer was fired the day after Floyd’s arrest and has been charged with murder. Three other officers involved in the arrest were also fired and have been charged with aiding and abetting.
The incident has sparked worldwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism. Floyd was eulogized in Minneapolis last week and a viewing was held Saturday in Raeford, North Carolina, near where he was born.
Floyd was raised in Houston’s Third Ward and played football at Jack Yates High School.
Kevin Block, 38, graduated from Yates a decade after Floyd, but said he was a role model for young men in neighborhood.
“He was a good guy, always looking out for the younger generation,” Block said. “We had to come out and represent for the neighborhood.”
This is a developing story please refresh for updates.
Michael Hixenbaugh reported from Houston, and David K. Li from New York
