Mourners have started arriving to view George Floyd‘s open casket in his hometown of Houston, Texas on Monday in the final stop of a series of memorials in his honor.
Officials are expecting thousands of mourners during a six-hour viewing at The Fountain of Praise church in southwest Houston starting from 12pm on Monday.
The viewing is open to the public but visitors are required to wear a mask and gloves to comply with coronavirus-related guidelines, as well as have their temperature checked prior to entering the church.
Floyd’s private funeral will be Tuesday followed by burial at the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in suburban Pearland where he will be laid to rest next to his mother, Larcenia Floyd.
Former Vice President Joe Biden plans to travel to Houston to meet with Floyd’s family and will provide a video message for Floyd’s funeral service.
Mourners have started arriving to view George Floyd ‘s open casket in his hometown of Houston, Texas on Monday in the final stop of a series of memorials in his honor
Ushers guide mourners for the public visitation for George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston on Monday
Mourners pass by the open casket of George Floyd during the six-hour public visitation for Floyd at the Fountain of Praise church
Floyd was raised in Houston’s Third Ward and was a well-known former high school football player who rapped with local legend DJ Screw.
He moved to Minneapolis several years ago to seek work and a fresh start after being released from prison.
His face now appears on a mural in his old neighborhood and his name was chanted by tens of thousands last week at a protest and march in downtown Houston.
The Houston memorial will take place as Derek Chauvin, the white Minneapolis police officer charged with killing Floyd, will face court for the first time.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder in Floyd’s May 25 death after he was filmed kneeling on the 46-year-old’s neck for nearly nine minutes as he gasped for air and repeatedly groaned: ‘Please, I can’t breathe.’
He was initially charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter before he was newly charged with second-degree murder last week.
Three other Minneapolis police officers – Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – were charged last week with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death.
It comes two weeks after Floyd’s death sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the United States over police brutality.
Two other memorials have taken place in Minneapolis and Raeford, North Carolina, near where Floyd was born.
Mourners gathered around Floyd’s open casket on Monday after his death sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality
The viewing is open to the public but visitors are required to wear a mask and gloves to comply with coronavirus -related guidelines, as well as have their temperature checked prior to entering the church
A woman prayed as she passed Floyd’s casket on Monday at the Fountain of Praise church
Some mourners were visibly upset as they stepped inside the church on Monday for Floyd’s viewing
People line up to attend the public viewing for George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston on Monday
The viewing is open to the public but visitors are required to wear a mask and gloves to comply with coronavirus -related guidelines, as well as have their temperature checked prior to entering the church
Hollywood celebrities, musicians and politicians were among those to attend Floyd’s memorial service in Minneapolis last Thursday.
Civil rights leader Rev Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy, declaring it was time for black people to demand: ‘Get your knee off our necks!’
‘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 because you kept your knee on our neck,’ Sharpton said.
‘What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country, in education, in health services, and in every area of American life. It’s time for us to stand up in George’s name and say, ‘Get your knee off our necks!’
Those gathered at the Minneapolis tribute stood in silence for 8 minutes, 46 seconds – the amount of time Floyd was held on the ground before he died.
Sharpton vowed a movement to ‘change the whole system of justice’ and said it was time to hold police accountable.
‘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 promises. Time is out for you filibustering and trying to stall the arm of justice” he said.
Floyd’s body traveled to Raeford, North Carolina, where he was born 46 years ago, for a two-hour public viewing and private service for the family on Saturday.
George Floyd’s golden casket arrived at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston, Texas on Monday ahead of a six-hour viewing
Officials are expecting thousands of mourners during a six-hour viewing at The Fountain of Praise church in southwest Houston starting from 12pm on Monday
A man looks on before the casket with George Floyd arrives at the Fountain of Praise church where the service will be held on Monday
Officials are expecting thousands of mourners to attend the six-hour viewing in Houston
Houston police officers who had escorted the hearse with the casket of George Floyd stand outside of the Fountain of Praise church where his memorial and funeral services will be held