TIME TO MOURN
A SERIES of memorial services will be held to remember and honor George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.
The services are set to take place in three cities over six days.
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Floyd, who was 46, lost his life after Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the handcuffed black man's neck for what prosecutors say was nearly nine minutes.
Here is more on the upcoming memorial services.
Where are George Floyd’s memorial services and when are they happening?
Mourners converged in Minneapolis on Thursday for the first service at North Central University.
Cops kneeled as Floyd's coffin arrived at the service.
Civil rights leader The Rev. Al Sharpton was scheduled to be among the speakers.
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“He was a human being," Sharpton said beforehand.
"He had family, he had dreams, he had hopes.
"The real duty of one with this type of assignment is to underscore the value of the human life that was taken, which gives the reason the movement was occurring."
Hundreds of people are expected despite coronavirus concerns.
“We have to be united, even with COVID,” Yousif Hussein told The New York Times.
“I have to show solidarity with George Floyd."
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Kevin Hart and Jamie Foxx are among the celebrities expected to attend Thursday.
Floyd’s body will then go to Raeford, North Carolina, where he was born, for a public viewing and private family service on Saturday.
A public viewing will be held Monday in Houston, where he was raised and lived most of his life.
When is George Floyd's funeral?
A 500-person service will take place Tuesday at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is expected to be in attendance.
The funeral is expected to be a ticketed event, according to KHOU.
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What happened to George Floyd?
Floyd was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store on May 25.
His best friend said Floyd would never deliberately use a fake bill.
Disturbing video shows Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's neck for what prosecutors say was almost nine minutes.
Cops did not help Floyd even though he begged for assistance and complained that he could not breathe.
Floyd later died from his injuries.
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Chauvin was fired from the force the next day and has been charged with second-degree murder.
Three other police officers at the scene were also dismissed on May 26 and were hit with criminal charges this week.
The second-degree murder charge alleges Chauvin caused Floyd’s death without intent while committing another felony, namely assault.
Chauvin had initially been charged with third-degree murder, but that was upgraded on Wednesday.
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Floyd's death has sparked protests, violence, and unrest all over the country, and curfews have been instituted in many cities.
“It’s not enough,” said protester Jonathan Roldan.
“Right now, we’re still marching because it’s not enough that they got arrested. There needs to be systematic change.”
How can I donate to George Floyd and Black Lives Matter?
Black Lives Matter protests have been taking place all across the US.
You can donate to the movement on the BLM website.
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A GoFundMe page for Floyd has already raised a staggering $12million.
The fundraising page is raising money for funeral expenses.
"As some officers knelt on his neck, other officers participated and watched; no one took any action to save my brother's life," Philonise Floyd wrote.