US protests latest: ‘Get your knee off our necks,’ Reverend Al Sharpton says at fiery George Floyd memorial
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Hollywood celebrities, musicians and political leaders gathered in front of the golden casket of George Floyd at a fiery memorial Thursday for the man whose death at the hands of police sparked global protests, with a civil-rights leader declaring it is time for black people to demand: “Get your knee off our necks!”
The service – the first in a series of memorials set for three cities over six days – unfolded at a sanctuary at North Central University as a judge a few blocks away set bail at US$750,000 each for the three fired Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death.
“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 Reverend 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!’”
The service drew the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Senator Amy Klobuchar and other members of Congress, including congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Sheila Jackson Lee and Ayanna Pressley. Among the celebrities present were T.I., Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish and Marsai Martin.
Floyd, a 46-year-old out-of-work bouncer, died on May 25 after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, put his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes as he lay handcuffed on the pavement, gasping that he could not breathe. Chauvin has been charged with murder, and he and the others could get up to 40 years in prison.
From coast to coast, and from Paris and London to Sydney and Rio de Janeiro, the chilling cellphone video of Floyd’s slow death has set off turbulent demonstrations against police brutality, racism and inequality.