American civil rights activist, Reverend Al Sharpton (pictured below) delivered a powerful eulogy at George Floyd Memorial service.
Speaking at the event which is being held at the Frank J. Lindquist Sanctuary at North Central University in Minneapolis, the Baptist minister said: “Go home. Get your rest, George. You changed the world, George.”
“I want us to not sit here and act like we had a funeral on the schedule,” the civil rights leader began. “George Floyd should not be among the deceased. He did not die of common health conditions. He died of a common American criminal justice malfunction.
“He died because there has not been the corrective behavior that has taught this country 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 commit.”
“George Floyd’s story has been the story of black folks. Because ever since 401 years ago, the reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed to be is you kept your knee on our neck,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said in a fierce eulogy. “It’s time for us to stand up in George’s name and say, ‘Get your knee off our necks!’”
Sharpton also vowed a movement to “change the whole system of justice.”
“Time is out for not holding you accountable! Time is out for you making excuses! Time is out for you trying to stall! Time is out for empty words and empty promses! Time is out for you filibustering and trying to stall the arm of justice!” he said.
Another memorial service is scheduled for Saturday in Raeford, N.C., where Floyd was born, while on Tuesday, a funeral will be held in Houston, where he lived much of his life until he moved to Minneapolis.