George Floyd funeral and Black Lives Matter protests
George Floyd funeral and protests: latest news - 9/10 June
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Adidas to invest in black community
German sportswear brand Adidas has pledged to invest $20 million in the black community in the United States and make sure that at least 30% of all new U.S. jobs are filled with black and Latino people at its Adidas and Reebok brands.
Adidas partners with many prominent black athletes and celebrities and its sneakers and tracksuits have been part of hip hop culture and style since Run-D.M.C. started wearing them in the 1980s. The Adidas managing board said in a statement it recognised the contribution of the black community to its success, but admitted the company must do more to fight racism and improve company culture to ensure equity, diversity and opportunity.
'While we have talked about the importance of inclusion, we must do more to create an environment in which all of our employees feel safe, heard and have equal opportunity to advance their careers,' Chief Executive Kasper Rorsted said.
Columbus statue thrown into lake
On Tuesday night, a statue in Richmond's Byrd Park of Christopher Columbus was vandalised, broken down, and then thrown into the park's lake.
Cops series cancelled
The impact of what has happened in the aftermath of George Floyd's death is being felt everywhere.
Philonise to testify
The House Judiciary Committee is set to hear on Wednesday from Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd.
Other witnesses include Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Vanita Gupta, former head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and current president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
MLS allows players to peacefully protest during national anthem
MLS protest allowed
Major League Soccer joins the National Football League in allowing their players' to protest peacefully by kneeling down during the national anthem.
Steve Kerr pushes for education change
“We need to learn about the real American history, the one that tells the truth about some of the awfulness to it. We’ve got to be able to come to grips with it before we can do anything about it. That sort of reconciliation with the sins of our past is a crucial part of all of this.”
"When has America ever been great?'
The question came out of the mouth of George Floyd's young niece at his funeral service.
We’ll be taking a brief pause from our coverage of the George Floyd protests across the world but the morning team will be here shortly to keep you up to date with all the latest developments as they unfold throughout Wednesday.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo raises his hand during the funeral procession of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody has sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality. REUTERS/Adrees Latif TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
“Stop treating us like animals and thugs. We’ve been vilified, it’s disgusting”
Mike O'Meara, the head of New York's biggest police officers' union, launched an astonishing attack on those protesting the death of George Floyd.
Final journey
Cheers and shouts of "Say his name - George Floyd!" greeted the horse-drawn carriage.
Protests have continued across the US and around the world on the day George Floyd, a victim of police brutality, was buried.
How the Minneapolis Police Department originally reported George Floyd's death
"Noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress".
Worth thinking what would likely have happened if a bystander had not been filming.
After the service
The Funeral home team placing the casket of George Floyd into the hearse.
Sharpton: "We going to fight on"
Rev Al Sharpton said the fight would continue at George Floyd's funeral.
"You fought a good fight", the Reverend said. "You kept the faith. You finished your course. Go on and get your rest now. Go on and see mama now. We going to fight on. We going to fight on. We going to fight on. We going to fight on," Sharpton continue.
"As we lay you to rest today, the movement won't rest until we get justice. Until we have one standard of justice," Sharpton said.
Crump and Foxx
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump poses for a picture with actor Jamie Foxx after the funeral.
Service now ended
The funeral service for George Floyd has now ended. It was impassioned, at times angry, but very, very full of love.
Floyd's body and his family now travel to the cemetery, Pearland's Houston Memorial Gardens. He will travel the last mile in a horse-drawn carriage and will be buried in his final resting place next to his mother.
Rev. Al Sharpton: "This was a crime"
In Rev. Sharpton's impassioned speech he said the officers who killed him must be held accountable. ""Lives like George will not matter until somebody pays the cost for taking their lives...this was not just a tragedy. It was a crime."
Derek Chauvin, who knelt on George Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, is facing second-degree murder charges.
Philonise Floyd speaks during the funeral for his brother, George Floyd, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston. (Photo by Godofredo A. VASQUEZ / POOL / AFP)
NY passes police disclosure bill
Following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, the NY State Senate has passed a bill allowing the disciplinary records of police officers to be made public.
Biden's speech at the funeral
To the family: "I watch with awe as you channel God’s grace to show the world who George Floyd was though your grief."
Addressing George’s daughter, he said: "Too many black children have had to ask - why is daddy gone?"
Celebration of the life of George Floyd
Fountain of Praise Pastor Mia K. Wright said the funeral service for George Floyd would be a celebration of his life, and a moment of connectivity. “In the tradition of the African American church, this will be a homegoing celebration", she said.
'God will take care of you'
Pastor Kim Burrell with a pretty powerful rendition of 'God Will Take Care of You'
NYSE holds nearly 9-minute silence in honor of George Floyd
(Reuters) U.S. financial market operators, including the New York Stock Exchange, held a moment of silence on Tuesday in honor of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American who died on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
The floor of the NYSE, which is owned by Intercontinental Exchange Inc, went silent for 8 minutes and 46 seconds at noon, coinciding with the beginning of Floyd's funeral in Houston and the amount of time the officer's knee was on Floyd's neck.
"There is no place for racial injustice across corporate America, our communities, our individuals, and we really need to highlight that," NYSE President Stacey Cunningham said in a livestreamed interview with Axios.
NYC police officer who shoved protester charged with assault
(Reuters) A New York City police officer who shoved a demonstrator to the ground during a protest against police brutality has been criminally charged over his alleged conduct, the Brooklyn district attorney's office said on Tuesday.
Vincent D'Andraia, 28, who works in the 73rd precinct in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, was charged with misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief and menacing, as well as harassment, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.
Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx
Actors Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx are in attendace at the Fountain of Praise church,
Cuomo on Trump: "How reckless, how irresponsible, how mean, how crude"
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has harshly criticised US President Donald Trump for claiming that a 75-year-old protester in Buffalo left bleeding from a severe head wound after he was pushed by two police officers was "a set up".
"How reckless, how irresponsible, how mean, how crude. He should apologise for that tweet," said Cuomo. "You think the blood coming out of his head was staged?" Cuomo asked. "You saw his head hit the pavement, you see blood on the pavement."
The protester, Martin Gugino, is still in hospital but out of intensive care.
8 minutes and 46 seconds
Minnesota governor Tim Walz has asked the people of his state to hold a silence of 8 minutes and 46 seconds as George Floyd's funeral service begins in Texas (11am in Minnesota). That was the amount of time Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck.
500 invited guests expected at funeral
Some 500 people are expected, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Reverend Al Sharpton, Attorney Benjamin Crump, Houston rappers Slim Thug and Paul Wall, and Floyd Mayweather, who is paying for the funeral services for George Floyd.
London Mayor orders review of street names and statues in the capital
Mayor Sadiq Khan ordered a review of London statues and street names which largely reflect Britain's empire in the reign of Queen Victoria.
"It is an uncomfortable truth that our nation and city owes a large part of its wealth to its role in the slave trade and while this is reflected in our public realm, the contribution of many of our communities to life in our capital has been wilfully ignored," Khan said.
The British parliament held a minute's silence at 11 a.m. to mark Floyd's death.
Boris Johnson reflects on global impact of George Floyd death
"We simply cannot ignore the depth of emotion triggered by Floyd death" stated the British PM in an address to the nation.
Governor calls on citizens to remember George Floyd at 1100am
Minnesota governor Walz calls on all citizens to honour of the funeral for George Floyd and requests that all Minnesotans spend 8 minutes and 46 seconds in silence at 11am this morning.
Pallbearers tend the casket before the funeral for George Floyd on June 9, 2020, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston, Texas. - George Floyd will be laid to rest Tuesday in his Houston hometown, the culmination of a long farewell to the 46-year-old African American whose death in custody ignited global protests against police brutality and racism.
(Photo by Godofredo A. VASQUEZ / POOL / AFP)
Pearland residents to honor Floyd with ribbons
Residents of Pearland will adorn trees in the area with crimson and gold ribbons on the day George Floyd is laid to rest in Texas.
LaLiga side Valencia CF show solidarity with BLM movement
Ahead of training at their Paterna complex this morning, all first team players from Valencia 'took the knee' in solidarity with the wave of support the Black Lives Matter movement has gathered, propelled by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May.
More action considered
On the back of our earlier post about statues, it appears that there could be a new wave of self-reflection by societies.
Reflecting on George Floyd
Mr. Floyd had big plans for life nearly 30 years ago. His death in police custody is powering a movement against police brutality and racial injustice.
Manny Fernandez and Audra D. S. Burch look back at the life of the man that tragically went from "I Want to Touch the World" to "I Can’t Breathe"
City of Pearland advice
"The public is certainly welcome to pay respects at public locations on the route, including on sidewalks.
"Barricades are being placed along the procession route on Cullen where the horse-drawn carriage will travel to prevent vehicular access and pedestrian access to the roadway. These barricades will help keep visitors safe and help maintain traffic safety," read the statement and traffic information can be found at Transtar.
Religious activism sparked following Floyd's death
George Floyd's death has triggered a groundswell of outrage and activism by religious leaders and faith-based groups across the United States, reminiscent of what occurred during the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
Conservative and mainstream religious leaders are joining with Black churches, progressive Catholics and Protestants, Jewish synagogues and other faith groups in calling for police reforms and efforts to dismantle racism.
'We're seeing it at the grassroots level. We're seeing rabbis walking alongside Muslim leaders, walking alongside Catholic priests and religious sisters,' said Johnny Zokovitch, executive director of Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace and justice group. 'We are seeing that race cuts across all religious denominations.'
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, cited a great hunger for connection after months of social distancing and lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. 'Folks are just so angry. They're angry about enduring racism, they're angry about the incompetent response to COVID, they're angry about bigotry and racism, about anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and white supremacy,' he said.
George Floyd's final resting place
Today's funeral will be followed by his burial at the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in suburban Pearland.
There he will be laid to rest beside his mother, Larcenia Floyd.
Horse-drawn carriage for Floyd
George will be carried home to Houston in a horse-drawn carriage for what will be a private funeral.
Statues assessed
On the back of the protests, we are seeing more and more leaders taking on the role of questioning the historical symbols that exist in today's society.
University of Alabama have authorised the removal of three Confederate plaques: "The plaques are located on and in front of Gorgas Library. These plaques will be placed at a more appropriate historical setting on the recommendation of Dr. Bell."
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan: “We must ensure that we celebrate the achievements and diversity of all in our city, and that we commemorate those who have made London what it is – that includes questioning which legacies are being celebrated.”
On Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond: "Governor Northam remains committed to removing this divisive symbol from Virginia's cpital city, and we're confident in his authority to do so."
George Floyd funeral in Houston: date, time, how to watch
Funeral plans and timings
George Floyd’s funeral is to be held in Houston on Tuesday, just over two weeks after his death in police custody in Minneapolis sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the United States and throughout the world, and led to the dismissal and arrest of four officers.
We will be keeping a close eye on proceedings but have created a guide for you to find out how you can watch it where you are.
George Floyd rolling news: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the news surrounding the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African American, in police custody in Minneapolis on 25 May.
Today sees the funeral of Mr Floyd take place and we will be bringing you all the latest on the event as it happens.