'He touched so many people's hearts': Hundreds attend memorial service for George Floyd in Minneapolis

• George Floyd died May 25 handcuffed, gasping for breath, and pinned down by at least one Minneapolis police officer.
• The first of a series of memorial services took place Thursday.
• All four Minneapolis police officers who had a role in Floyd's fatal arrest are now behind bars.
• "If you commit a crime, it does not matter whether you wear blue jeans or a blue uniform — you must pay for the crime you committed," the Rev. Al Sharpton said.

Hundreds of people, including politicians, civil-rights leaders, and celebrities, honored George Floyd at a memorial service Thursday in Minneapolis, where he was killed 10 days earlier.

Floyd was arrested by four police officers on Monday after being accused of using a $20 counterfeit bill at a corner store. He was handcuffed and pinned facedown on the ground, under the knees of three police officers initially and at least one for nearly nine minutes in total, gasping, "Please, I can't breathe."

At North Central University's Frank J. Lindquist Sanctuary, people commemorated the 46 years he lived before his death spurred a worldwide movement against racism and police brutality.

Floyd's brother Philonise spoke at the event about their life together. They "didn't have much" growing up, he said behind the golden casket, surrounded by purple and white flowers, but their mother "did what she could."

Philonise Floyd said his brother had "a way with words" and could make homeless people with drug addictions feel like "the president," which he said made people "cling to him" and want to be in his presence.

"It's crazy — all these people came to see my brother. That's amazing to me that he touched so many people's hearts because he touched our hearts," he said, sharing childhood tales of playing catch, eating banana-mayonnaise sandwiches, and drying clothes in the oven.

'George Floyd should not be among the deceased'

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Reps. Ilhan Omar, Sheila Jackson-Lee, and Ayanna Pressley were seen at the service, where attendees wore masks and maintained social distance. Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis were joined by the celebrities Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, TI, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, and Marsai Martin.

Ben Crump, the attorney representing Floyd's family, spoke at the event.

"The pandemic of racism and discrimination killed George Floyd," he said.

A video captured Floyd's final moments and sent shock waves around the world when it was shared widely on social media. Crump described Floyd's treatment by the police as "torture," "inhumane," and "evil."

Crump urged people to protest because "George Floyd deserved better than that," continuing: "We all deserve better than that. His family deserves better than that."

Americans, Sharpton said, hadn't been taught that "if you commit a crime, it does not matter whether you wear blue jeans or a blue uniform — you must pay for the crime you committed."

"George Floyd should not be among the deceased," he added. "He did not die of common health conditions. He died of a common American criminal justice malfunction."

Sharpton highlighted President Donald Trump's photo op in front of St. John's Church on Monday and said, "Since he held a Bible, if he's watching us today, I would like him to open that Bible."

Moreover, he said, "We cannot use Bibles as a prop and for those that have agendas that are not about justice — this family will not let you use George as a prop."

'Get your knee off our necks'

Derek Chauvin, the arresting officer, was charged with second-degree and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter. In total, he pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, according to a complaint from prosecutors.

The three other officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane — quickly lost their jobs and were later charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

During Thursday's service, which is the first in a series of memorials for Floyd, a Minneapolis judge set bail at $750,000 for Thao, Keung, and Lane.

A public viewing and a memorial are scheduled for Saturday in Raeford, North Carolina, about 25 miles west of Fayetteville, followed by a public viewing on Monday and a memorial on Tuesday, both in Houston.

Floyd's death has sparked protests in the US and across the globe, and, Sharpton promised: "We won't stop. We're going to keep going until we change the whole system of justice."

"It's time for us to stand up in George's name," he added, "and say: Get your knee off our necks."

• Read more:
• George Floyd didn't resist arrest before 3 cops pinned him to the ground, witness says
• Minneapolis's schools and city agencies are cutting ties with the police department as it stares down a civil rights probe into systemic discrimination
• The Justice Department reportedly granted DEA temporary power to conduct 'covert surveillance' on demonstrators at the George Floyd protests
• 'My face exploded': Police firing rubber bullets have wounded and permanently disabled protesters and journalists chronicling history
• Trump's evangelical base is ecstatic over his bible photo op, which many other Christian leaders have condemned
• Thousands across the UK, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Canada condemn racism and demand justice at global Black Lives Matter protests
• The George Floyd demonstrations have led to a cycle of violence between cops and protesters. Experts say only a shift in policing itself can end it.
• White House press secretary compares Trump's photo-op outside St. John's Church to Churchill's bunker visits during WWII and Bush's first pitch after 9/11
• Trump claims he just happened to be inspecting the White House bunker, not hiding in it, during Friday's huge protests in DC
• An Atlanta protester describes what it was like to be arrested while peacefully protesting