Transcripts For CSPAN Funeral Service For George Floyd In Houston 20240712

President joe biden, representatives al green and Sheila Jackson lee. Withervice concluded reverend al sharpton. God is god god is is he he has hope tomorrow hope for god is, god is is god ooh, god is is w god he is my hope for tomorrow rock is my he is my rock to believe it,ot god is, god is believe i know he is yes, he is god is everything, my everything i know he is my everything, my everything you e will be with he will be with you you always, be with my everything, my everything i know he is my everything my Everything Everything my everything my everything, my everything amen. Amen. You may be seated. We certainly give honor to god and greet each and every one of you who are watching by way of television or stream, those of you who are here to observe the homegoing celebration of brother george floyd, and we say to his family our heart is with you. The old gospel hymn says in times like these, we need a savior. Times like these, we need an anchor. Be very sure that your anchor holds and grips the solid rock. We want to bring greetings to everyone within the sanctuary walls and also who are watching platformm or some today. I am remembering the summer family, written in times of trouble. I can never move out of my pain without remembering this, that the lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. It wills from the niv, give you hope to the floyd family and to all who are here, mcgee and the leaders and dignitaries who are here and our elected officials, and for everyone who has taken time to join us by stream, we are all connected. This is a moment of connectivity. By which godent has gathered people all around the world to connect us around peery floyd,eorge we askge perry floyd. You to keep your masks on. If anyone is in distress, you ask. In the tradition of the africanamerican church, this would be a homegoing celebration. I will say this again. It would be a homegoing celebration of brother George Floyds life. We are celebrating his life, but just before we begin this homegoing celebration, let me thank all of those people who helped to make this come to pass. I want to begin with esquire benjamin crump. Thank you for watching over this family. In times of devastation, someone has to stand up and take the lead, and, thank god, you have done just that, brother. And also the reverend al sharpton, thank you through North Carolina and minneapolis, continuing to sound the trumpet and let people know that this is about injustice, and we want to see justice served. And then locally, i want to thank our mayor and mayor pro tem who have done a wonderful job in making all of the resources of this city available to have the viewing yesterday. As a matter of fact, we had a viewing yesterday with tens of thousands of people that came through these doors. And it came off without a hitch because we made sure hpd was here and the Fire Department and people were here who were emt specialists. We had people from everywhere, they were giving out water. For all of those that donated your services, your resources, we want to thank you on behalf of this family. We thank you, thank you, thank you. To brother george anderson, our chief operating officer of the church, and brother dallas jones, working together in tandem to make sure everything was pulled together, thank you. This is an enormous task. This is a gigantic responsibility. And for people that look at it and think, well, you know, i would not have done it this way, you dont know how you would have done it if you had this many people. [applause] this many people funneling through your doors, but, thank god, we did not have any problems. Everybody was respectful, everybody was sensitive to what the family is facing, and we are just glad to know that we have such a great team here in houston. I think we are ready to have some church. Dont you . It is time for us to have church. Its time for us to celebrate his life. We may weep, we may mourn, but we will find comfort. And we will find hope, that is for sure. We want to follow the program that has printed, but for those who do not have programs, the musical selection will be led by pastor kim burrell, and the houston aggregate singers, who have blessed us already. Reverend Arthur Rucker will do a part of the scriptural reading, the Old Testament. Reverend booker of greater st. Matthew Baptist Church in houston, texas, pastor emeritus, will read from the new testament. Reverend dr. Mary white, who leads the prison ministry, she will offer prayer of comfort to the family. After which there will be a Video Montage that i think all of you will enjoy. In that order, we are asking you asking them to come. Someone say amen. [organ music plays] as historical as this is, we recognize this is a real family with real feelings. There are a lot of us in here who are in that position and it hurts. We want you to know the moment the world announced that george floyd had left the earth physically, we became family. Everyone in this room, just center our love around this family, because we know what it means to have a loved one to leave, so we stand here and celebrate his life, but i want to leave you with these words. Be not dismayed mmmm whatever, oh no because we know he will take care of you his wings of love abide will, he will take care of you will take care take care of you every day a long lifes narrow way sad, he will, he will take care of you ooohhhh will, i know he will, he care of you and one last thing. Just remember, he will, he , because he will somebody who knows he will take care of you here is what you have got to do , and you will , god will,n witness he will, he will take care of you oooh will, he i know he will take care of you oooh he will take care of you ooooh i know what youre going through right now but will, he will, he you ake care of remember the children. Will, he will take care of you, of you, of you, of you here is where you can find strength oooh under his wings, god will take care of you somebody next to you, even though we are in a pandemic. Willnow he he will i know he will oooh i know he will take care of you take care of you youuse he wont give up on take care of you god will take care of you god will he will take care of you god will take care of you god will god will take care of you god will take care of you god will he will take care of you god will take care of you all you have to do is call out take care of you you ll take care of will s, he take care of you god bless you god will [applause] giving honor to the family of george floyd, to the dignitaries in the house, and all of the clergy and to the great pastor of this house, we offer you the reading of the word in the Old Testament according to the book of amos, chapter five, beginning at verse 16. Therefore, the lord, the god of hosts, the lord, saith thus. Wailing shall be in all the streets, and they shall always say in all the highways, alas, alas and they shall all call the farmer to mourning and such as are skillful in lamentation to wailing, and all the vineyards shall be wailing, for i will pass through thee, saith the lord. Do unto you who desire the day of lord, to what end is it for you . The day of the lord is darkness and not light. It is as if a man flee from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the lord be darkness and not light . Even very dark and no brightness in it . I hate and despise your feast and will not take delight in your solemn assemblies. Though you offer me burnt offerings and your meal offerings, i will not accept them. Neither will i regard the peace offerings. Take away from me the noise of your song, for i will not hear the melody of your harps, but let justice run down like waters in righteousness, like a mighty stream, and this is the word of the lord. Thanks be unto god. Plays]music to the floyd family, pastor ronnie booker, want you to know we are still praying for you. We want you to know that god has made himself available to you in the person of jesus christ to help you in times like these. God bless you. I thessalonians, chapter four, beginning at verse 13. But i would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, and concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even with others which have no hope, for we believe that jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in jesus will god bring with him, for this we say unto you, by the that we remaind unto the coming of the lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of god, and the dead in christ will rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet the lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. God bless you. [applause] [organ music plays] with our pastor, our copastor, mia wright, and all in the sanctuary for the celebration. I also acknowledge sherita, who our valued member of esteemed prison ministry. For those of you who do not know, we had letters coming from those who are incarcerated and as far away as angola, louisiana, because of what shes done for the kingdom. So we give you love. In a moment of prayer, gather with me. Lets talk to god for a minute. Father, i stretch my hands to thee, father. No other help do i know, and, god, if you withdraw yourself from us, father, where shall we go . Father, we acknowledge you as the master, the creator, the sovereign god, the ruler, the god that is higher than high, more majestic than majesty, greater than great, more loving than love itself. God, you are god, and you are sovereign. We welcome your presence thats already in this place. Master, we thank you for the celebration. We thank you for the life of george floyd, oh god, that at a moment when he called out for his mama, we believe the ears of mamas across this nation reared up, that the ears of mamas across the world, heard him cry. Even though for one mama, all mamas begin to weep. We began to wail for our children. We begin to wail for our grandchildren. We wailed for men across this world because of one mamas call. God, thank you. Thank you, god, today, master. God, we thank you for what you are doing in this place, father. We thank you that i would ask that you would ignite upon us cloven tongues, because cloven tongues of fire were to declare and proclaim righteousness, but fiery tongues come out in anger. Gues of fire. En ton god, right now, we are in a strange land, and how can we sing in a strange land . I can sing because i know who reigns. We can sing because we know who god is, where god is, and what. What god is about to do. Thats how we can sing in a strange land. God, its a strange land when we have to make a law to have empathy for her brothers and sisters. That empathy is not not lawivated, and motivated. God, help us in this place today. We pray for the family of george floyd who time after time has borne private grief in public places. But i remember you said you bore our grief, you bore our sorrows. Father, undergird him in the name of jesus, remind him of your everlasting arms, remind an that this shall be ebenezer, a time of remembrance, that it shall be up to everybody to remind the nation that this is our ebenezer. We speak, and we decree, and we declaim that right now, lord, god, there shall be justice. Right now, there shall be a remnant you have raised up. Lord god, give them strength of this time of sorrow. Undergird them. Put your arms around them and let them know that my god is here, that my god is a comforter, and above all, we will celebrate. We will remember these days, and we will call on god because our , god shall come with a vengeance. Our god will avenge us. Our god will come. Ride on, emmanuelle. We believe it. Now, god, we lay hands on it in jesuss name. Amen. [organ music plays] worldou changed the yes, you did river was born by the in a little town, ooh just like the river, i have been running ever since for a long, Long Time Coming but i know, changes coming oh, yes, it will because ifraid to die know there is something on the other side it has been a long, long time and changes going to come , oh, yes, it will oh, yes, it will go, my brother my brother and i say, brother, help me please but he winds up knocking me back down on my there were times when i thought ,hat i wouldnt last for long but now i know that i can carry. N ,ts been a Long Time Coming but i know, i know, i know, changes can i come. Change is going to come. I know, i know, change is going to come, yes it will. I believe, i believe that a change is going to come. I know, i know, i know, a change is coming. A change is going to come , yes, it will. [applause] god bless us all. Brother, that shows true skills right there. My, my, my, amen and thank you for that wonderful selection. At this time, we are going to have resolutions read by one of the daughters of this house. She has gone on to do some phenomenal things for god and gods blessing her all over the world i speak of not other than ivy mcgregor. Greet her with a hearty amen right now. [applause] thank you, pastor wright and copastor mia wright, and certainly to this family, to reverend sharpton and for all dignitaries and to all officials. To the family, on behalf of the fountain of praise church, our prayer for the family in this season and this unexpected time is to draw comfort from the fact that while this incident in the untimely incident, it is no surprise to the heavenly father, the bible says in psalms 46 and one, god is our refuge and strength. Very present help in trouble. We stand fast in our faith that god will give you in her braces to prop you on every leaning side. May you feel the closeness of his comfort in the warmth of his presence as you cope with his heart rendering transition. We are praying for you. We are interceding on your behalf and want each of you to know that our love extends to you from houston to all parts of the world. Sherita mcgee tate, a spiritual daughter of this house, or family members and all of the family members, we await the joy that comes in the morning after the weeping season. The bible says that our god will wipe away all tears from your eyes and soon, your sorrow shall be swallowed up in joy. This is given on behalf of pastors remus and mia right. In his own way and for his own purpose, god has reached down into his garden to pluck one of his fair flowers. Recently, god called the spirit of a recently departed george home to be with him throughout eternity. Whereas, we the officers and the members of the greater st. Matthew Baptist Church, desire to express our love and respect to our departed brother. We make these resolutions a copy which will be kept in our records. Butte also resolved that even as we mourn his departure, we be it also resolved that even as we mourn his departure, we resign to the will of an allknowing and kind heavenly father. We assure the family of the deceased that they have everlasting, heartfelt sympathies. This is on behalf of the greater st. Matthew Baptist Church, reverend Ronald Booker senior, senior pastor. On behalf of jack yates, senior high school, the resolution is for george floyd, class of 1993. Where as we are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved jack yates lien, george floyd, lion, george floyd whom the , father has called from labor reward, whereas george floyd was a member of the legendary jack yates class of 1993, was a respected leader among all s, served with character and distinction as an athletic, gifted member of the s, 1992 runnerup state Championship Football Team as the starting tight end and was a member of the highperforming mighty lyons Basketball Team who stood at a six foot six inch power forward, able to dunk with both hands and whereas, george floyd lovingly known as big floyd and the gentle giant, was steadfast in his kindness and devotion to helping his fellow jackie eights ons succeedes li through his genuine example of love, faith and generosity. Whereas, george floyd has left a legacy of love, loyalty and service to dear old Jackie Jack Yates high that will live on forever in our hearts. Be it resolved that Jack Yates Senior High School embraces the floyd family because of the love that we share. George floyd and his big smile and sense of humor can never be replaced but his legacy as a lion, a father, a brother, as a friend will be honored each time his family jack yates alumni are gathered. His beloved Third Ward Community and friends and all other s stand up and fight for justice in his name, humbly submitted on the this ninth day of june by the Jack Yates Senior High School. [applause] the family of george floyd like to acknowledge the message of solidarity resolution and visual tribute from his excellency, the president of ghana. During the memorial yesterday, a video produced by the people of ghana was broadcast for thousands of mourners as they pay their final respects to mr. Floyd. The family is honored by the decision to have mr. Floyds name permanently mounted in the historic wall at the Diaspora African Forum and the w. E. B. Dubois center in africa. They are grateful that the country of ghana stands with the floyd family on the struggle of all families to change the status quo of racism and prejudice. The family is deeply moved by the generous act of the ghanaian government to solidify George Floyds legacy. There have been countless other acknowledgments and resolutions. State senator west, naacp houston branch, rodney ellis, commissioner harris, the Church Without walls, the Seventh Day Adventist church, the Louisiana State senator, michael q biz, texas state university, state representative ron reynolds, Los Angeles Police department, city of los angeles, Houston Community college, poem submitted by melinda woods, houston city councilmember, carolyn shabazz, alina milan , county judge and countless , others. And we hope on behalf of pastor pastor wright and copastor mia wright in the fountain of praise church, we hope that the words that have been spoken in the words that have been written will bring you comfort in the days to come and while the world has been shaken and awakened by three words that your dearly beloved george floyd spoke, i leave with you one word, his final word, which is breathe. Breathe is not passive. Breathe is active. Is inhale breathe is inhale and exhale is to be alive and so we stay with his family as you breathe with you. God bless you. [applause] when you are lonely and your ,eart is filled with despair , andhen you are in doubt , andant find your way out you cant see your way through, will find you singing] how precious is the name of jesus . I tell you, he will hear you every time. How precious is the name of jesus . His name is jesus. Jesus, jesus, jesus, there is. Omething about that name , to call him master, savior me, its like the feeling after jesus, jesus, jesus, but all of heaven proclaim, shall fall,ngdoms but there is something about can sometimes life , and you find it d to even breathe [applause] being strong, now im barely hanging on, so weve stand tall, or too many ll fall say if they people . New , and ie me this refrain. Ill never be the same he promised me that he would us. Ys be with. Od is with us god is with us. God is with us. God is with us. God is with us. This is a promise, i will not leave you. I will not leave you. Even if you are feeling alone right now, the devil is alive. A lie. I will not leave you. Jesus said, i will not leave you. Neither will i, god said to you. I will not forsake you. Remember, god is with us. If you can right now, saying ing that last line with me. God is with us. [applause] rev. Wright come on church, say amen. Daphne taylor. Daphne taylor. I tell her all the time, she is houstons modernday mahalia jackson. Amen. She empties churches across the country with her anointed gift. At this time, we are honored to have our dignitary speak. Before i ask him, to come up, i would ask all of the political dignitaries to stand, just for a moment. We saw commissioner rodney ellis and many others. Yes, yes, yes. The former mayor, his father, annise parker, and so many others. Let us thank god for your service, each and every one. Adrian garcia, commissioner, each and everyone. At this time the program calls for a video by Vice President joe biden, and then we will hear from our own congressman, al green, and our congresswoman, Sheila Jackson lee, and finally the mayor of the city, in that order. God bless you. V. P. Biden hello everyone, in on this day of prayer when we try to understand our day of gods plan and our pain. ,wo georges family and friends jill and i know the deep hole in your heart when you bury a piece of your soul, deep in this earth. As i have said you privately, we know. We know you will never feel the same again. For most people, the numbness you feel now will slowly turn, day after day, season after. Eason, into purpose you have the memory of the one you lost, but for you, that day has come before you can fully grieve. And unlike most, you must grieve in public, and it is a burden. A burden that is now your purpose to change the world for the better, in the name of george floyd. Like so many others, i have watched in awe as you summon the courage to channel gods grace and show the good man that george was. To serve justice to long dormant. To move millions to act peacefully and purposely. Among all the people who feel connected to this tragedy, are the ones who lost something that can never be replaced. To georges children and grandchild, i know you miss your dad and granddad. As i said when i saw you yesterday, you are so brave. Daddy is looking down so proud of you, and i know you miss the bear hug that only you can give, the pure joy of riding on his shoulders so you can touch the sky. The countless hours that he spent playing any game that you wanted because your smile and laugh was the only thing that mattered. I know you have a lot of questions, no child should have to ask questions that too many black children have had to ask for generations. Why . Why is daddy gone . Looking through your eyes, we should also be asking ourselves why is the answer too cruel or painful. Why in this nation, due to many black americans wake up knowing justcould lose their lives in the course of living their lives. Why does justice not role like a course like a mighty stream . Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot turn away, we must not turn away, we cannot leave this moment thinking that we can once again turn away from racism that stings at our very soul. From systemic abuse that still plagues american life. As Thurgood Marshall once implored, america must descend from indifference, from fear, hatred, and mistrust. We must descend because america can do better, and america has no choice but to do better. I grew up with catholic social doctrine which told me that you which, that faith without works is dead and that you will know us by what we do. Ladies and gentlemen, we have to deal with the denial and the promise of this nation to so many people for so long. It is about who we are, and who we want to be. To ensure that all men and women are not only created equal, but are treated equally. We can heal this nation. But we can remember the pain, not hollis callous the heart and forget. To everything there is a time and a purpose, and a season under the heavens, but today, now is the time, the purpose, the season to listen and heal. Now is the time for Racial Justice, that is the answer we must give to our children when they ask why. Because when there is justice for george floyd, we will be on our way to Racial Justice in america, and then, as you said, then daddy will have changed the world. God be with you, george floyd and your family, in the words of a hymn from my church, may he raise you up on eagles wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand. God bless you all. [applause] rep. Green to this family, the floyd family, to reverend al sharpton, the voice of the hopeless, help for the helpless and power to the powerless, i think you merit some love for all the things that you do. [applause] to attorney crump, who takes on the cases that many people were would conclude our lost causes, but you do it, and you win because you fight, i think you deserve some love. Just a few more. We are honored here today in the ninth Congressional District to have the chairperson of the conscience of the congress, the honorable karen bass is with us and she has traversed some distance. Would you please stand . I would like all the congresspeople who are here to stand. Show them some love. My colleague, jackson lee is here. Thank you. To mayor turner, my dear friend and fraternity brother. To judge hildago, the commissioners, and all members of the council, and i want to say a special word about another Great American with us, one whose name means help her of helper of humankind. One who was there with dr. King, one who is the father of the Civil Rights Movement in houston, texas, one that we know and love. The honorable William Alexander lawson. He deserves some love. He is in the house today. I missed commissioners ellis and garcia, to you as well, dear brothers. To the friends and family, again. I am not here today as a democrat. We are not here as republicans. We are not here because we are rich, poor, conservative, or liberal. We are here because, pastor remus wright was right when he said we had no expendables in our community. George floyd was not expendable, this is why we were here. His crime was that he was born black. That was his only crime. George floyd deserved the dignity and respect we afford all people simply because they are the child of a common god and it is tragic that we have to be here, but we are going to celebrate the life of george floyd. [applause] to the family, it is important i say this to you, we who are here today, i want to say i stand with you. We will be here for you. Lets let them know they are not alone. Not lets say to the family, we are here to stay. Say it with some love. [applause] do better thanan that. If you love them and you know it , lets stand up and show it. Lets make it clear that we will make it known to the world, that they are not going to stop us because we are going to support them. [applause] members of this congress have the privilege of having flags flown all over the capital. We do it for important occasions and important people, but i want i had this this flag flown over the capitol because i want the United States of america to respect george floyd. Thats why this flag was flown. Want the United States of america to show him the respect that he richly earned simply because he was born in this country, because he was a human being, and because he is not expendable. That is why this flag was flown. [applause] and i have a resolution that will be presented to the family. This resolution will become part of the record of the congress of the United States of america. Resolution is going to say thehose who look through distance of time that at this time, there lived one among us who was a child of god who was taken untimely, but we are going lookke sure that those who through time will know he made a difference in his time because he changed not only his country, not only the United States, he changed the world. George floyd changed the world. He made a difference. [applause] sisters, wes and have a duty, responsibility, and an obligation not to allow this to be like the other times. We have a responsibility to not only george floyd but to all of persons breonna taylor. [applause] have a responsibility to each one of them to make sure that we do not walk away today after having celebrated his life and not taken the next step to commemorate and to assure future generations that this wont happen again. Time. Brothers and sisters, the Congressional Black Caucus has done something historic. We have now a law that makes it against the law to put your foot on the neck of a person. Its against the law. [applause] you are going to have to wear your body camera. The Congressional Black Caucus but iing a difference, believe theres one more thing we ought to do to make a difference. We have got to have reconciliation. This country has not reconciled its differences with us. Weve abolished slavery but we did not reconcile. Weve abolished segregation but we did not reconcile. It is time for a department of reconciliation. In the highest office, it is time to have someone who is going to make it his or her business to seek reconciliation for black people of america every day of his life. That is what it is. It is time for us to reconcile. We need a department of reconciliation. God bless you. God bless the United States of america. [applause] just before congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee comes, let me tell you we have a gate time at the cemetery for 3 00, and i want us to be conscious of the fact that weve got a long, drawnout program here, and i want to give the guest speaker an opportunity to have what he has to say. I want to give the family, certainly, an opportunity to say what they have to say, and the preachers that are on program an opportunity to say what they have to say. I would just ask all of you to be brief, brothers and sisters. Be brief. Amen, amen, amen. I have to get to the cemetery before 3 00 and, you know, thats a long entourage going that way, so im asking you to be sensitive to everybody going behind you, and lets try to keep it to the two minutes. Im going to forgo my remarks today. I can speak to the family at a later time. I want to make sure all the familys requests are met, so im asking you when you come forward, please, please, please, be sensitive. God bless you. Representative lee this is a time for the family. This is a time for the healing of the wounds, the pain that no one else in this place can walk and feel at this time. , let meloyd family acknowledge your pain. Servantome as a humble to be able to respect and to ages thatty to the exslavess descendents have faced in this nation. Let me heal the wounds of the majority of africanamerican men who have suffered at the hands of a wrong mindset, a warrior mindset instead of a guardian mindset in the practice of law enforcement, but. T is your time today in keeping with that moment, allow me to offer these words. We know that centuries ago, they took a man, wicked men and put him on the cross. Did not understand that though they were intending wickedness, that out of much intention of wickedness came goodness. Your loved one, george floyd, the secular world failed in its duty to intervene. Failed in its duty to act, and failed in its duty to aid. But george floyd answered the question in death, when it was asked in isaiah, lord, who should i send . Oh, god, have mercy on us. There was a tall man by the name of big floyd who stood up and said, lord, send me. [applause] and so, as we come today, people of statutes, those who humble themselves before god, we come to pay tribute to a man who said, send me. And i want to acknowledge those in the streets. Many of them could not be in this place. They are black, brown, asian, and white. They are protesting and marching i am saying, as a mama, i hear your cry. That is what george floyd wanted us to know. And i guess he wanted us to know, family, about jack yates. Somebody might have said what good comes out of nazareth, and somebody else might have said what good comes out of the third ward. I am so grateful today to be able to say a man by the name of big floyd walked amongst us down those blocks, went on up to that crimson and red, and began to make a legacy that no one can deny. I want you to know, my friends, that as these members of Congress Give me a moment, chairwoman karen bass, the Congressional Black Caucus, leadership, barbara lee, congressman hank johnson, congresswoman lizzie fletcher, congressman vincente gonzales, congresswoman sylvia garcia, congresswoman deb haaland from new mexico. They are here because they are honoring a brother that came out of the heart of third ward and jack yates. They are here to honor that leadership. [applause] as i conclude, george floyd was here on an assignment. It is painful to be able to accept that. I am so sorry i know him and in death, but he was here on an assignment. Some folk on assignments only get to stay 30 years. When the wicked men thought that they had done something, george floyd took it 46 years he walked this journey. He left behind sisters and brothers who could stand up against the adversity of life when the camera came and people asked to pj and others, what do you want . We want justice. We want justice. [applause] and so, my friends, i do not know if i will ever get eight minutes and 46 seconds, reverend sharpton, out of my dna. I do not know if i will ever be able to overcome the words i cannot breathe. Eric garners mother, Trayvon Martins mother, and all the mothers. They are robbing slowly. I cannot breathe. But what i will say is that the assignment of george floyd, and the purpose will mean that there will be no more eight minutes and 46 seconds of police brutality. There will be no more eight minutes and 46 seconds of injustice and mistreatment of africanamerican men at the hands of the laws of this nation. There will be no more eight minutes and 46 seconds that you will be in pain without getting justice. His assignment turned into a purpose, and that purpose was around the world that there are people rising up that will never sit down until you get justice. And so, i say to all of those who are here, to that, from senator miles, from grant malone, who works in this venue. All of these pastors, what we say is we will not sit down like rosa parks said, until justice comes. So let me make it very clear as i go to my seat, what was done for wicked, for those who mourn know, came to a day where a man rose. And so i say, to george floyd, it will be up to us that his purpose in his assignment for the justice of this nation, for the fact that there will never be the brutality faced by a man that says i cant breathe, and calls to a mama who loved him so. That is the call for all of us, and so, as the lord and scripture said, when asked who should i send, the first who said send me was george floyd. Are they going to be able, or is he going to be able to have each and every one of you say send me . To god be the glory, for the great things he has done. May god bless his family, and god bless george floyd, and the United States. I honor you and pray for you. We have a flag that will be given on behalf of the speaker of the house, nancy pelosi. This family will receive president ial letters from former president barack obama, and former president bill clinton. Reverend, thank you for all you do, god bless you. Mayor turner to reverend al sharpton, and all of the other clergy that are here, and to the garner, brown, arbery, and martin families, and to this and certainly to this particular family. Let me just adopt and incorporate all that you have already heard into this presentation. Let me just briefly say, on behalf of the city of houston, let me thank this family for standing in the gap for your brother, your father, your cousin, your family member, and let me thank you for your strength inyour representing him and representing yourselves extremely well. And then, i want to thank you on behalf of this city for seeking justice for george, while at the same time asking people all around the world to do it respectfully and peacefully. On behalf of this city, i think we owe a great deal of gratitude to this family, and i want to say thank you. [applause] let me just say to you, that people all over the world, and elected officials on all levels are doing things that they otherwise might not have done, had not done because of your because of george. You know, i announced that in this city i would be creating this task force on policing reform, but at the same time, that will work things through , and we will get that done within a 90day period. As i speak right now, the City Attorney is drafting an executive order, an order i will sign when i get back to city hall. What that order will say is that in this city, we will ban choke holds and stranglehold. And stranglehold. Strangleholds. In this city, we will require deescalation. In this city, you have to give a warning before you shoot. In this city, you have a duty to intervene. In this city, we will require comprehensive reporting. In this city, you must exhaust all alternatives before shooting. And there will be other things in this executive order. But i want you to know that it goes beyond just policing. Because i have been talking with Business Owners and ceos over the last several weeks, and what i have said to them, when we invest in communities that have been underserved, and under invested in, when we have not done the investments, then you do not have to spend as much on policing if you can take the if you take the necessary funds and invest in our communities. I want you to know and i want this family to know that we appreciate everything you all have done. Lastly, i will say this. Uprge and his family, reared in houston, the third ward, who would have thought that his name would now be mentioned in south africa, canada, nairobi, berlin, south korea, europe, a person who may not have been known by many before. Meant for evil, god has turned it out for good. We honor him, reverend sharpton, not because he was perfect, but we honor him today because when he took his last breath we were the rest of us will now be able to breathe. Proudly proclaim george perry day. May god be the glory. Come on, to god be the glory. Say it to your neighbor, to god be the glory. What the devil means for people, god means for good. May we be able to celebrate the life of a man who lived on this earth and god has used him in his death to expand his name around the world to make change. Amen. Amen, amen, amen, amen. God bless you to all of our dignitaries. Mayor turner, i think you are a preacher. You have a job when you are finished, your term here in the city of houston. We thank god for his leadership, amen, amen. The program calls for another Video Montage, and we thank god for the young lady who has put them together. Amen. Come on now, somebody is still celebrating. Oh, yes. Angie hill says the angie hill is the video artist who put together these montages, but i want to ask the members of the family who want to speak to make their way to the stage. Kathleen mcgee, travis kings and mr. Cyril white. And as they come up, there is a tribute that will be sung by r b artist neo. That will be followed by one of the jack nates alumni who has authored a poem, and then another musical selection, my soul has been anchored in the lord. Mr. Michael todd. May god bless you. Show me your face, fill up this space. My world needs you right now my world needs you right now i cant escape being afraid fill me with you right now world needs you right now show me your face, fill up this space my world needs you right now my world needs you right now i cant escape being afraid fill me with you right now now ld needs you right i will fall down that points us to you right now since what i see and god pleased with me my world needs you right now my work lets see you right now showme your face me your face philip this space my world needs you right now world needs you right now jesus is thats where the power you have the authority you are the great i am you are the king of kings u are the lord of lords in jesus name faceshow me your come fill this space my world needs you right now my world needs you right now [applause] [applause] welcome, everyone. I am George Floyds aunt. Just give me a minute. I just want to thank everybody, and i would like to thank the whole world. For what it has done for my family today, especially george, but i just want to make this statement the world knows george floyd. I know perry jr. [applause] he was a pesky little rascal, [laughter] but we all loved him. And i just want to thank all of the mothers that are here today, and who got a nephew, an uncle. Just hug them, and just let them know. We are for all these young black men that are coming up in this world today, and just hug them and love them because we dont ever know when their time will come. I want to thank each and every one of you. I have gained such a huge family all over the world. I have so many sisters and now, i have aunts and uncles, and i want to thank you all. Theres too many names to knew in hist god heart that i love the floyd family. I love my sister, and i cannot talk about george perry junior unless i bring up his mothers name. [applause] Everybody Knows her as miss sissy and third ward cuny home texas. [applause] i just want to say i love you, i love all the support and my arely know i do, and we all one. Thank you. [applause] i just want to say that i brother ao miss my whole lot. [applause] and i love him. And i thank god for giving me my own personal superman. God bless you all. [applause] first off, i want to say my hello, my name is brooke williams, George Floyds niece, and i can breathe. As long as i am breathing, justice will be served for perry. I want to thank you for coming out. My uncle was a father, brother, cousin too many. He was an activist. He always move people with his words. That officer showed no remorse while watching my uncles soul leave his body. He begged and pleaded with you just to get up, but you just pushed harder. Why must your system be broken . These laws need to be changed. No more hate crimes, please. Someone said make America Great again, but when has america ever been great . [applause] those four officers were leaning on him for nine minutes, and they didnt show that they have a hard or soul. This was not just murder, but a hate crime. I shared many happy memories with my uncle, and thats all i have, are memories. I cannot pull myself together when i hear him calling my grandmothers name. I believe she was there with open arms saying, come home. You shouldnt feel this pain. My first memory of my uncle was his paying me to scratch his head when he came home from long days of work. We even had a song about it called, scratch my head, scratch my head, yeah. After that i knew he was a comedian. He always told me, baby girl, you are going to go so far with that beautiful smile and brain of yours. Another favorite memory was when me and my mother was so worried, and he would say we were going to find a way. We didnt know how we were going. O get to my uncle pjs wedding we had no way, but here come my uncle, busting through the door like superman. I was probably 10. My grandmother was also handicapped, and he had this big truck we had to ride in. I was wondering how my grandmother would get into the truck. He just placed her in like it was light work. I never questioned anyones strength. It was unbelievable how my uncle and grandmother broke their backs to make their children smile in ways that did not seem possible. [applause] quote tupac, you see the old way was not working, we have to do what we have to to survive. America, it is time for a change. No justice, no peace. My brother and mom tells me this all the time, god says high and god stays high and we look low. Thank you, houston. Its always love in the hometown. [applause] i really do not know what to say after my niece, but she told the whole story. But i wake up in the middle of the night thinking about my brother, our lives, because we couldnt believe it at first. But i see it now. All i think about is when he was yelling for mama. I know our mama is right here, she got her arms wide open, saying, come here, baby. I know every mother felt that. When he yelled, please, please, i cant breathe, i stopped wearing ties. I didnt want to wear a tie no more so i could breathe. I went to memorials, no tie, i. I couldve had one on, but right now i want justice for my brother, my big brother. That is big floyd, Everybody Knows who big floyd is now. Homes, that isey where we were born. But we are going to be remembered, everybody is going to remember him around the world. He is going to change the world. [applause] mom, if she was here today, i honestly can say this, that she would be on that casket right now. Trying to get in there with him. She is a real mom. A real mom, she is not going to separate from anybody. She is just like animals. They cling to their mom. I love yall. Yall showed a lot of support. Yall. I am speechless right now. [applause] good afternoon. My name is cyril white, and i am the director of god be the glory sports. Before i became the director, i met big floyd and spent so many of my college summers playing basketball with him. He had a good friend named mike riggs, who went to worthington, and i would pick him up and we would get big floyd and we would be at mcgregor park, Sunnyside Park or were ever we could go find a good game. Fastforward to 1998, i started a College Exhibition tour team , touring around the country, going to play different colleges and exhibition games, and big floyd was my first power forward. I would be calling around, trying to get different contracts with different schools and people would ask me who was , your big man, and i would say , george floyd. They would say, oh, you got big floyd, you must be a pretty good team. And then we would go off and play. Not only did george play on the team, he brought many from the third ward. Many of those guys got College Scholarships and went to play professionally overseas. It has been established how he was an avid sports fan and was always about sports. I was sharing earlier this week that i have already gotten a commitment for three acres of land here in houston for a george floyd memorial sports center. [applause] i just kept inking about what could i do, and i lot of support what could i do, and i had a lot of support from around the world, and i had one guy step up definitely can provide the real estate. Just work on the vertical so that is where we are at with that. In to godthat we did be the glory sports, we raised were raised with proverbs. That was our spiritual exercise to grow in practical wisdom. Everybody would read two verses out loud and pass the bible to the next guy. Right . So that our mayor said that today is george floyd day, so i will read proverbs chapter six, verse nine to 11, and this is big floyd speaking that said how long will you lie there . When will you get up from your sleep . A little sleep, slumber, folding of your hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like in our man. I can say how big floyd has i can definitely see how big floyd has woken us up out of our sleep. We are not slumbering anymore. This property and scarcity talked about in this scripture, that is how we treat each other, humanity. We are poor in humanity. We are poor in empathy. We will rise and rise against injustice and make sure that all human beings are treated the the same and that big georges death will not be in vain. To the family, thank you for allowing me to speak and share this memory, and to god be the glory to you all. Thank you very much. You know, hearing everyone speak thus far about big floyd, i mean, great brother, got a great family on stage, great house in this church the whole extended family, thank you, everybody. And one thing about big floyd, he would tell me, be strong. He would celebrate his life and happiness. He would not want us weeping so hard, and im trying, but it is very hard. I have great memories and stories to tell, and again, you know no, no, no, i got it. One of the best things on my justice have to seek out for my brother and we will get it together. Everyone in this church, all the great city councilmen and women. Thank you very much. Sheila jackson lee, thank you, eric green, and the rest of you guys for helping us the last couple of days and we have given days and weeks and giving your major support, and everyone in the world for the major support and love you guys are sharing and giving, sharing your beautiful pictures, thank you guys. We will keep this fight on and do it together. We will finish this together. United we stand, and again we are standing for george floyd, and thank you again, everyone who came to show love. [applause] one more time, his life mattered, all our lives matter, black lives matter, his death will not be in vain. What was his name . George floyd. [applause] first of all, i want to give all honor and praise to god. For giving me a chance at life. And meeting my little brother. For giving him his Third Security job. My little brother my little brother was a friend. He was a mentor. He was a father. He was a basketball player, football player, but most of all, he was a human being. And if i see a youth, i could thisnever could say no to kid. Out of all the trials and tribulations that we went through, all the times he made me mad and made everybody mad, we still love him. I couldnt say no. So when the family came to me you going to is speak . I will speak and keep on speaking. I will fight, i will fight, because i have been fighting for him and i will keep on fighting for him. [applause] you know, we ask ourselves who we meet and who we come encounter with in life. I came encounter with him, and if you knew him, a ghetto angel. A brother. You know, you hate evil but you love good. Brother was, my bro was good. You cant slander his name with me. You cant talk bad about him to me. Because i knew him. , if youou knew floyd , you understand the words thats coming out of my mouth. And i ask you, fight for my brother. Help me fight for my brother. Help the family fight for my brother because he was someone. Thank you. The family thanks you, and i will not give up on you, bro. I love you little brother, and i got you. [applause] you should be on your feet, right now, giving the glory to god. Get on your feet. Give him the glory. Give him the glory. Give god the glory. Give god the glory. Give his kids the glory. Give his family glory. To my pastor, i love you. Mia, i love you, too. My frat brothers. George floyd anybody in here played football for jack yates or went to jackie eights . Jack yates . Yates . E halls of jack stand up. Stand up. George floyd was an allamerican tight end. George floyd was a power forward, was my power forward, so i am speaking on behalf of my brother. Blood, sweat, and tears every single day. Its hot outside. Its hot in the gym. Not one time did i ever see george floyd complain. Not one time. He was out saying, cast the first stone. Huh . He was out saying, cast the first stone. I hear everybody talking. You want the real or you want the fake . You want the real today, right . My brother is sitting here. He did not have to be sitting here today. Those men that stood on my brothers next changed the world. They took somebody from us that was great. When i say great, i never heard him complain, not one time. He was an umbrella to all of us. He was 66. Any rain came our way, he made cover for us. Ould from the journey home to jackie eights jackie , he wases high everybodys shelter. I do not care what george floyd did. I do not care. Let me tell you something. He was a human being. First of all, i could not sleep monday night. I do not know why. I couldnt sleep. I was tossing and turning memorial day in my bed. I dont know why. As i woke up, the next morning and got texts, and i said, what . I havent even seen the whole tape. It hurts my heart. We all hurt in america right now. Am i right or wrong . One thing, but god, because all we need right now in this world today is what . Love. Turn to your neighbor and tell them that you love them, right now. Turn to them right now and tell them you love them. That is all we need. You see how that feels . George floyd told me that he just told me he loved me. He told everybody out here that he touched he loved them. George floyd is love. That is who george floyd is. This is for him. We love him. If you love george floyd, and wasknow how george floyd with you you know you want to , always be george floyd. I am george floyd. You are george floyd. That could have been any one of said,here, but god god well done, floyd. So as i sit here and tell you all right now, george floyd is in the bosom of god. He is in the bosom of god. He is all right, yall. To tell you, stay positive, america. Is a debt you have to repay, but mmmm, not this debt. You dont have to repay it. This is the last. As i see so many people coming together, so many races, i say, because of the love of george floyd, we are all here together, today. Because you never know how long we have got. You never know. The key is love. I love you all. [applause] [applause] hey, whats going on, everybody . Much love and strength to the family of george floyd. Much love to the families the family members that are hear of anybody that has been lost. 50 states. 50 states all protesting at the same time. This man changed the world. He changed the world for the better, so i just want to personally thank george floyd for his sacrifice so that my kids can be all right later on. I appreciate the sacrifice, my brother. I genuinely do. Sorry. I didnt come up here to talk. All right, all right, all right. Ihow do say goodbye what we had sorry, yall. The good times that made us laugh outweigh the bad i thought would get to see forever but forevers going away its so hard to say goodbye throat] [applause] yesterday two yesterday to yesterday i dont know where this road is going to lead all i know is where weve been and what weve been through if we get to see tomorrow paine its worth all the its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday and ill take with me the memories to be my sunshine after the rain its so hard to say goodbye o yesterday to yesterday [applause] god bless you. Good afternoon. My name is arnicia dangerfield. I am honored to stand before you today. Honored to share what george floyd meant to our alumni, our yates senior high school, our community, of course his children, family, his friends, and now the world. 3260 truxillo is where it began. To make a way out, your gift with a ball helped to create a vision and infiltrate a plan. And now beyond the streets of third ward, your legacy will stand. Your children will be honored to witness your contribution firsthand. You did not make excuses, but stood tall and accepted your responsibilities like a real man. Such a gentle giant. Although his 66 statute could intimidate some men, your smile , always repping h town. Calling old heads to take a stand against the violence and rebuke it. While you were traveling from coast to coast, sometimes met with opposition, but still so inspiring and filled with so much hope. Everyone listened when you spoke. Familiar faces became family, and not just blood made them kinfold. But there is a message in it all. Because all of us are beyond woke. The pinnacle for you is something we will never know. Undoubtedly, though, the seeds you have planted will manifest and fully grow. Only you could bring the world together, george floyd. A life, a vip to a soldout show. My prayers, condolences, and love to the family. We will forever honor george floyd. Thank you. [applause] to my nephew, tj, my niece, my niece, andj the rest of the floyd family. There is peace behind this. There is love behind this. Although a storm was raising, you had no idea. Someone had just changed the whole world. I have sung this song so many at so many funerals and homegoings. Is one that really touched me right here. Stormsh the keep on raging in my life and sometimes its hard to tell the night from day still that hope that lies within us is reassured as i keep my eyes upon the distant shore i know hell lead you safely to that blessed place he has prepared but windtorm and if the keeps blowing though the storms keep on raging in my life and sometimes, it is hard to tell the night from day still, that hope that lies my soul upon thep my eyes peaceful sure, i know hell lead me blowing the wind keeps in my life i realize, sometimes in my life the winds keep blowing in my i dont have fear yeah, yeah, soul come on, you can do better than that. Caret hallelujah. Thank you, my friend, and before i introduce all the pastors and preachers that are here, let me thank minister Robert Mohammed and the brothers from the nation of islam, which it such a wonderful job on our security, amen, working with the Houston Police department. We thank god for them. I want to ask all of the pastors and preachers in the congregation to stand. Those of you that are pastors and preachers. [applause] amen. We are thankful for all of them. I know that sometimes people have their problems with preachers, but in times like these, teachers can be a major support. They are needed, they are needed and we thank god for these brothers and sisters who work in the work of god. We have three preachers that are going to speak to us today. First of all, he is an icon in this city and has been a civil rights leader and activist for many, many, many years. I cannot hear from him, and the person of reverend bill wallsend. And after him, we are a city of diversity. We are a city of diversity. We are striving and endeavoring every way we can to make sure all people are represented and we can continue to fight the injustices throughout this country. We also have pastor stephen wells. He does a wonderful job in midtown houston. We are glad to have him with us. We have my friend dr. Ralph douglas from the Church Without walls. They will speak in that order. To this family, who hopefully has been comforted by the many pastors to the right, this us ay, who have given to portrait to this family, who hopefully has been comforted by the many people who have come today, and who have given to us a portrait of the man we only knew through the news, but who we now know not only as a human being, but as a great human being. We are glad to have known george floyd. To all those who have come out today, and i am personally proud that you have come. Many more came, but could not get in. But that many people wanted to come. I have seen you have destroyed all laws of social distancing. [laughter] pastor remus wright, who said lets just forget that right now. That. Right now, we are christians. [applause] he asked us to stand two minutes. I dont know that we can do that, but lets work on it. Today, i want to say that it is marvelous that this young man, 46 but young, has done what he has done to let us know who george floyd was. I am glad to know that in his last moment of breath, he called for his mother. That means something about who he was. He came up in a family that was close and that loved each other. I heard from people who knew him as a student, a fellow student, and athlete, who realized that he also was a team player. Finally, he was a person who knew the lord and who believed in him and who trusted him. People have been wondering whether or not this is going to be like other movements. I came to this city in 1955, which was the year that the body of emmett till was found in the body of water in mississippi. The same year that rosa parks refused to give up the back seat on the bus. It was that year that i came to houston. Since that time, i have seen any number of struggles against racism, and they have all ended up with relatively little outcome. So the question is valid. It is a reasonable question. Is this going to be just like so many other movements, a moment of anger and rage, and then back to business as usual . You could say that because the prejudiced and the bigoted are not going to change, but we can do some things to change them. That is what i hope we will do. First of all, we can make sure we dont stop the fight, that we stay with it, and that we make sure that somebody knows that we are not going to stand for this to keep on going. Obviously, the first thing we have to do is to clean out the white house. [applause] that has to come closer to us than washington. Our states, counties, and cities have to have good leadership. That means we have to go and vote. [applause] you know, a young man from Humble Beginnings can change the world. How do i know that . Partly because george floyd came from Humble Beginnings and now, as many speakers have said, everybody on earth knows who george floyd is. He was a man of no rank or title. He was a man who came from Humble Beginnings, but god has done some things, even through this tragedy, that has let the world know about big floyd, big george. You know, there was a man who was humble, came from Humble Beginnings. A stable in nazareth. That man did not have a home. And his wife was about to have a baby. Since he did not have a home, there was no bed for her to have that baby in, but in that stable, there was a manger. And he went to that manger and that manger gave forth a baby, and that baby did not have any title either. He lived at a time when the roman government was making it very hard for jews. And he was murdered, legally, but he was murdered. The interesting thing is that from that death comes our churches. And as we take the lords supper, ever how often we do that, we remember his flesh and his blood. How long are we going to say, i cant breathe . But now, as i look at marches all over the world, protests filling up the streets, and back in the days when i used to be part of marches, all of the marches were black. But now, there are white people who know the story. There are hispanics who know the story. There are asians who know the story. [applause] today, there are preachers back there, and at least one muslim minister who is here. I brought with me a jewish fellow. And all of the cultures, all of the races throughout the world, all the nations throughout the world, all the continents throughout the world, they know the name of this man who was born in a stable, in a manger, and so you can raise the question, can any good thing come out of a tragedy like this . We have lost a loved one and the pain is almost unbearable, but what good can come out of that . Well, out of the murder of the man on the cross has come a movement worldwide. Every imam from the muslim faith, every preacher from the christian church, every rabbi from the jewish religion, all of us know the name of george floyd. We know the name because of a death. You think something good cannot come out of this . His death did not simply start a bunch of good speeches, a bunch of tributes. Out of his death has come a movement, a worldwide movement. [applause] and that movement is not going to stop after two weeks, three weeks, a month. That movement is going to change the world, which means that this boy, born in a manger, born in a stable, like julie holmes, born in a situation where he lived in the ghetto, lived in the hood, third ward. This boy is going to bring forth a demand for better government, for better policing. He is going to bring forth a demand, a multicultural, multinational, worldwide demand for change. My hope is that we will stay behind that demand. And while not everybody will be concerned about it continuing, at least the people from the hood will be concerned about its continuing. [applause] it will not end with this boys death. He is 46, but i call him a boy. This shall continue. So that this movement will transform this corrupt world. Praise god for george floyd. [applause] wright, thank you for the invitation to be here. I am genuinely humbled to be here. Family, what a privilege to be here with you today. The apostle john in his first epistle wrote this there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because god first loved us. If anyone says i love god and yet hates his brother, he is a liar. Because, if you have not loved your brother, you have seen, you cannot love god, who you have not seen. He has given us this command that anyone who loves god must also love his brother. This is the reading of gods word. You know, none of us wanted to be here today. You would have rather, we would have rather that george was home and safe, but racism murdered him. Racism is the reversal of the revelation of god. Racism is not perfect love casting out fear, it is perfect fear casting out love, which means overcoming racism will require a love that is greater and stronger than fear, and only jesus offers us that love. Only living the jesus way offers us healing and we need healing. Because you know and we know there is nothing any of us can say that will bring george back. So we came to say today that we grieve with you, and that your grief has awakened the conscience of the nation. Because we are here in gods house, because we believe in the risen lord christ, we grieve in resurrection we grieve in hope. We grieve in resurrection hope that god is at work in our nation rending hearts and changing minds and bending the moral arc of the universe toward justice. I hope you know that everyone would have understood if you said, we do not need to hear any white people today. You have been silent long enough. You can be silent one more day. But i have to tell you, you asked the whole community to come together, and look what happened. [applause] you have chosen the half of love, the path of perfect love and i want you to know that is the path not only to your own healing, it is the path to the healing of the whole world. It is the path of partnering with god in redeeming the world and it is a difficult path. You have been asked to carry a burden that would have crushed most people and you have borne it with grace and courage. You have called those who disrupted protests with violent and looting to honor georges. Ife with love you called a president who sock to dominate to live in a Peaceful World where we deliberate. You called those people whose perfect fear casts out anything that looks like love with a perfect love that casts out fear and you have been a model for not just america, but for the whole world, and now, we must example,ur good calling out anything that doesnt honor george or any the rest of us domination, oppression, racism. Stephen kleinberg, the eminent sociologist taught us that houston, texas, is the most diverse city in america. It is ethnically and what americaly will be ethnically and demographically in the year 2050, which means we are the experiment in america for how races can get along, but unless and until we are willing to be as brave and truthful as you have been, nothing will change. The experiment will not yield any new data. We will simply do over and over again what we have done over and over before until, as Fannie Lou Hamer said, we get sick and tired of being sick and tired, so it must be different this time. I have to tell you, at my church, it is easy to not talk about racism. At my church, it is easy to dismiss as politics the economic of hundreds of years of systemic racism, but not talking and not acting is the path to destruction. Newsn watch that on the every night and ask if that is the future we want for ourselves. Could i have the privilege, i would like to see a word to white churches say a word to white churches. We are better than we used to be but we are not as good as we ought to be and that is not good enough. [applause] which means you have to take up the work of Racial Justice. Races and did not start in our lifetimes, but racism can end in our lifetime. Ask,nly if you ask and i what am i going to do about it . And while it is still bothering you right now what you are going to do on a note card and tape that money mirror you see every morning and every night before you go to bed and each night, ask, was i true to the calling and every morning, ask what can i do today to bring gods kingdom honor as it is in heaven . Gianna, i saw you on tv. A reporter asked you what was the best thing about your daddy and you said my daddy changed the world. And if we will do our part, you , so have been a prophet from your mouth to gods year, amen. Ear, thank you, steve, and dr. Lawson, and to this wonderful family that has demonstrated what it means to be faithful and courageous. All of us in our lives begin with obscurity. We dont know how it would end in history. No one thought on that january morning of the 15th day of 1929, that that boy would grow up to be the liberator of the movement called the civil rights. The one who, in august, 1961, on the fourth day, in hawaii, of all places, in obscurity, the first africanamerican president would be born, and nobody knew, on october 14, 1973, in obscurity, fayetteville, North Carolina, parents boldly and courageously migrate into houston, had no idea knew god had birthed someone that now belongs in a rightful place of history. We all begin in obscurity. We dont know where we will land in history. The question of theology and theodicy is where was god in all of this . God was and is where god has always been. God did not cause it, but god can certainly use it. Unfortunately, we have turned it into cliche, but it is christian bedrock belief that all things Work Together for the good of them who love the lord and are called according to his purpose. And so to this family today, god is working his way and he will has been where he always will be. I leave you now with these words , we cannot understand the ways god would lead us to that lesson blessed promise land, but he will guide us with his eyes. We will follow him until we die and we will understand it better byandby. [applause] we give you praise and lord, and lord, we bless your name we lift our voices to say thank for your goodness and mercy towards us for your goodness and your mercy towards us for your goodness and your mercy towards us we offer praise, oh yes, we offer praise o lord, we give you praise nameord, we bless your voices just tell youthank for your goodness and your mercy towards us andyour goodness, jesus, your mercy towards us mercyur goodness and your towards us we offer praise why are we offering praise today . Because you are worthy of the glory, even now, and the honor of,are worthy of, worthy worthy of the praise and its for your goodness and and your mercy towards us and its for your goodness and your mercy towards us for your goodness and your mercy towards us we offer praise come on and help me saying we offer praise worthy of glory and honor worthy of the praise its for you. For your goodness and for your mercy for your goodness your goodness, lord, and your mercy hes been so good to us yes he has for your mercy and your goodness your goodness your goodness your goodness youve been so good faithfulness faithfulness your faithfulness you are still faithful your kindness kindness kindness your kindness your love love no matter the color no matter the education for better or worse for richer or poorer to death do us part he loves us he loves us lord, your goodness yeah, yeah, yeah thank him for his goodness thank him for his goodness his goodness your goodness, jesus for your goodness and your mercy for your goodness and your mercy for your goodness and your mercy we offer we offer can someone just offer god praise right now i know what we are going through, but he is still worthy still deserving we thank you, lord we offer you praise hallelujah somebody praise him hallelujah thank you, jesus hes worthy [organ playing] at the direction of the senior pastor, pastor remus wright, the program has been altered because of the time factor. We appreciate the fact it was difficult for everyone to stay within their time limit. Thank you, dr. Wright, for your auspicious leadership. My privilege and honor today, as we give honor to the family of george floyd, is to introduce a man who needs no introduction, but deserves one. Born october 3, 1954, al sharpton. [applause] grew up like most of us, raised like most of us, in church. His sunday School Teacher had no idea what he was teaching. His pastor had no idea who he was preaching to. His teachers had no idea who they were teaching. Since that time, he has become a social justice activist, a civil rights leader, a talk show host, a commentator, a leader of movements, a world changer, a freedom fighter, a preacher amongst preachers. When officer chauvin put his knee on the neck of george floyd, he had no idea that a man whose life he was taking would be important enough to have this preacher to preach his eulogy. He probably thought it would end quietly in some obscure funeral home with a few people. But he had no idea president s of nations would think and write about him and the preacher who would preach the service would be the greatest civil rights preaching voice of our time. We have talked much about how we change things. But when god wants to change things, he brings a person to the earth. And when this preacher was birthed, god knew there would be moments like this, where it would take someones voice to speak truth to power prophetically, that would change the world. I hope when we hear this preacher, all america understands that yes, we can change policies and legislation, but if we want to change the situation, white parents have to teach their boys to be brothers to black boys. We have to teach our daughters to be sisters whether you are black, white, or brown. Because when george floyd was gasping for breath, saying i cant breathe, he was speaking the language of 400 years of africans in this country. We couldnt breathe on the slave ships. We couldnt breathe in jim crow. We couldnt breathe through segregation. We couldnt breathe through mass incarceration. We could not breathe for the last four decades. Theres been a preacher on the scene for the last four decades saying we cant breathe when Trayvon Martin, we cannot breathe. This preacher is here today in houston, texas, because george floyd died saying we cannot breathe. I want you to welcome to this pulpit today the iconic preaching voice of the reverend dr. Al sharpton. Our voice, our fighter, our leader, our freedom fighter. And because of him, guess what. One day, all of us are going to breathe better. Lets stand and receive the honorable reverend al sharpton. Rev. Sharpton first, to this family, the whole family that has suffered this crime, i hear people talk about what happened to george floyd like there was something less than a crime. This was not just a tragedy. It was a crime. His family has borne this this is a time we need to understand that they are going to do everything they can to delay these trials and delay the accountability and try to wear this family down. And many that are standing and andng today and skinning grinning in front of cameras will not be here for the long run. We must commit to this family, all of this family, all five of his children, grandchildren and all, that until these people pay for what they did, that we are going to be there with them, because lives like george will not matter until somebody pays the cost for taking their life. Lives. [applause] we cannot just act like this is some new way of teaching sociology. We cant act like this is some new need for some of us to add social justice to our programs on sunday morning. There is an intentional neglect to make people pay for taking our lives. If four blacks had done to one white, if four black cops had done to one white what was done to george, they would not have to teach no new lessons. They would not have to get corporations to give money. They would send them to jail. And until we know the price for black life is the same as the price for white life, we are going to keep coming back to these situations over and over again. Either a law will work or it wont work. So i want to give honor to the family and a commitment that we are going to be here for the long haul. When the last tv truck is gone, we will still be here. [applause] i have gotten to know some of the family over the last few days. I have seen them cry in private. I have seen them talk. I told them i grew up in a black family. I know we dont always get along. I have cousins watching me now that better never call me. Thats what families are. But i have also seen them in light moments. Week when forget last the family that was there talked with former president obama on the phone. They said we are not asking you to come because if you take the secret service stuff and all of that, but we want to thank you and your wife for calling and calling the name of our brother, our uncle, during the speeches you have been making. The president made the mistake of asking what is it you want me to do . Just tell me where i can be helpful. Two things we want justice and we are in minneapolis, can you send me some food down here . They only had the finger food. Everything was closed up. We are all on reverend als dime, i want some food. We had some light moments. I want to also say, give honor to reverend dr. Wright and reverend mia wright for opening the doors of this church and putting arms around sabrina and her family at this hour. They know this is going to be controversial in some circles. Yet they opened the doors anyway. Not knowing what would happen, not knowing how people would behave. As i spoke with them on the phone and he welcomed his family, i think we are giving them a lot of we should not take them for granted. I think that they are deserving of a lot of honor. He is a man and she is a woman of courage. We have too many holy punks in the pulpit. [applause] you all do know i am al sharpton. I am going to say what i have to say. Give a hand to our pastor, remus wright. And sister mia wright. I also want to, and i am going to get into my eulogy so we can stay on time. But i must recognize attorney ben crump. [applause] i call him black americas attorney general, probably because we dont feel we have one. Has fought and stood for many cases and he has with we should notam take for granted. When black lawyers take these cases like crump has, they are targeted by their bar associations. They are targeted by people who are envious and jealous. We need civil rights lawyers that are there for civil rights, not for civil settlements. [applause] and thats why i give him recognition. I must also recognize several families are here that came at great sacrifice, but they wanted to be here, to be part of this, because they understand the pain better than anyone, because theyve gone through the pain. And i think we should recognize the mother of Trayvon Martin would you stand . [applause] the mother of eric garner, will you stand . [applause] the sister of botham jean, where will you stand. The family of pamela turner, will you stand . The father of Michael Brown from ferguson, missouri, will you stand. The father of ahmaud arbery, will you stand . [applause] all of these families came to stand with this family, because they know better than anyone else the pain they will suffer from the loss that they have gone through. I also want to thank all of those that helped to make this as easy as they could for the family. Certainly, we thank, again, those in the financial and entertainment world that immediately jumped up and said to the family that they wanted to help and make sure that they didnt have to worry about expense. Tyler perry and robert smith. [applause] and champion floyd mayweather. [applause] and the others that have come. It means a lot because it shows the world the weight of this. Brother jamie foxx is with us today. Stand up, jamie. [applause] al b. Sure is in the house today. So, let me get into my everybody is sending me notes. I want you to turn briefly to the book of ephesians. Sixth chapter. Ephesians, the sixth chapter, because i think that we need to understand what we are dealing with here. Ephesians 6 tells the story of why i think we need to really look at the situation differently, because it talks about, in pauls letter to the philippians ephesians. Im catching up with myself. It says in his letter to the ephesians, he says, finally, be strong in the lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of god, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorities, against the powers of the darkness and against spiritual forces of wickedness in high places. Therefore, put on the full armor of god, so when the day of evil comes, ye may be able to withstand your ground. May god add a blessing to the reading of his word. We are not fighting some disconnected incidents. We are fighting an institutional, systemic problem that has been allowed to permeate since we were brought to these shores. And we are fighting wickedness in high places. When you can put your knee on a mans neck and hold it there eight minutes and 46 seconds, that is not even normal to a civilian, less to a police officer. Try when you go home to put your knee down on something and hold it there that long. Youve got to be full of a lot of venom, full of something that really motivates you to press down your weight that long and not give out. And to think that you are certified by the state to carry a badge and a gun and you have got all of that in you means that we have permitted people to become officers of the law that ought to be somewhere else in society. Imagine you pressing down on something eight minutes thats telling you i cant breathe, thats begging for their life. And you keep pressing. What kind of mentality is that . How do we screen who Police Officers are . And how do we get to this place over and over again . They told eric garner, put him in a chokehold, he said, i cant breathe. Those three cops walked, no prosecution. Until the law is upheld and people know that they will go to jail, they are going to keep doing this because they are protected by wickedness in high places. [applause] how do you prevent crime in the hood . You scare others by saying, if you do that, you are going to jail. How are you going to scare a bad cop if bad cops dont go to jail . How are you going to tell them that your fate is going to be bad if you go on the other of the side other side of the line when everybody else got away with it . Who taught these cops that they can do this to george were those that let the cops before this get away with this, and when they had the highest level of government that excuses it, when some kids wrongly start violence that this family dont condone and none of us do the president talks about bringing in the military, but he has not said one word about eight minutes and 46 seconds of Police Murder of george floyd. He said, the family has my sympathy and all of this. He didnt give those in other situations his sympathy. He challenged china on human rights, but what about the human right of george floyd . [applause] the signals that we are sending is that, if you are in law enforcement, the law doesnt apply to you. And im telling you that the law ought to especially apply to you, because you are given special powers that others dont have. We dont have a badge representing the states. We dont have a gun we are carrying. We have not gone through training. We should expect more from you. And if you break the law, you ought to be expected to pay an even higher price, because you know better and you saw sworn not to do that. [applause] so, yeah, its nice that everybody wants to now study the problem. Its nice big corporations said we are going to throw money to study equal justice. But if we went out here and did that to a young white kid, you wouldnt need no study. You would know what to do. And you know what to do now. The same bible said, do justice. All this family wants is justice. Its nice to see some people change their mind. The head of the nfl said, yeah, maybe we was wrong, Football Players maybe they did have the right to peacefully protest. Well, do not apologize. Give Colin Kaepernick a job back. [applause] dont come with some empty apology. Take a mans livelihood, strip a man down of his talents, and, four years later, when the whole world is marching, all of a sudden, you go and do a face time, talking about you sorry. Minimizing the value of our lives. You sorry . Then repay the damage you did to the career you stripped down. When colin took a knee, he took it for the families in this building, and we dont want an apology. We want him to play. We want him repaired. [applause] equal justice. Equal fairness. We are not antianybody. We are trying to stop people from being antius. [applause] we want the law to apply equally. And you dont need a whole lot of studying about that. Yes, we need new laws. Yes, congress has stepped up the Congressional Black Caucus has come. Yes, we need to close these no knock laws. Yes, we need to stop where policemen can just say based on what they thought, they can use lethal force. Yes, we need residency requirements. All of what they propose is what we need, but we have enough right now to prosecute policeman en that hold somebody down eight minutes and 46 seconds. [applause] , i think a lot of people are confused. I was working out. I go work out in the mornings. Men said to me, white fella in the place im working out, reverend al, i see you on tv. You are always talking about race. I say yeah. He said, but havent we come a long way . I said, yeah but you have to , understand how far we have to go. You have to understand how deep it is. Mean . , what do you i said, about 8, 9 years ago, a newspaper in new york did a background on my family, and they found out that my greatgrandfather was a slave in south carolina. I went down there with the newspaper. We went to the graveyard and my greatgrandfather was owned by the family of strom thurmond, the segregationist. I went to the white church, the first Baptist Church. In the graveyard, there was a there were the tombstones. In about a quarter of the cemetery, the tombstones was thurmonds and sharptons. The plantation your greatgrandfather was about a mile away. They buried the slaves there. They only put pebbles over their graves. It occurred to me that every time i write my name, sir, that is not my name. Thats the name of who owned my greatgrandfather. Thats how deep race is, that every time i write my name, i am writing American History of what happened to my people. [applause] i cant talk about what my greatgrandparents did. They were enslaved, and we are still being treated less than others. And until america comes to terms with what it has done and what it did, we will not be able to heal because you have not you are not recognizing the wound. [applause] floyd could have been anybody. But then the reaction was not anything because somewhere i read in the bible, god said he would pour out his spirit among all flesh. Thats why, when i heard them talking about they never thought theyd see young whites marching people marching like they are marching now, all over the world, ive seen grandchildren of slavemasters tearing down slave masters statues over in england and put it in the river. I pour out my spirit among all flesh. Ive seen whites walking past curfews saying, black lives matter, no justice, no peace. I pour out my spirit among all flesh. You have now lived to where youve sown wickedness, and now you have to reap the wrath of those that dont want to be wicked no more. Shallhat a man sows, that he also reap. We come because god, in his own way one of the ministers said it right, god always uses unlikely people. To do his will. If george floyd had been an Ivy League School graduate and one of these ones with a long title, we wouldve been accused of reacting to his prominence. If hed been a multimillionaire, they wouldve said that we were reacting to his wealth. If he had been famous athlete, as he was on the trajectory to be, we wouldve said we were reacting to his fame. But god took an ordinary brother [applause] from the bad wall, from the housing projects, that nobody thought much about but those that knew him and loved him, he took the rejected stone. The stone that the builder rejected. They rejected him for jobs. They rejected him for positions. They rejected him. They rejected him to play certain teams. God took the rejected stone and made him the cornerstone of a movement thats going to change the whole wide world. [applause] im glad he wasnt one of these polished, bourgeois brothers. Because we wouldve still thought we was of no value. But george was just george, and now you have to understand one if you bother any one of us, it is of value to all of us. [applause] if you would have any idea that if you would have had any idea that all of us wouldve would react, you would have took your knee off his neck. If you have any idea that everybody from those in the third ward to those in hollywood would show up in houston and minneapolis and fayetteville, North Carolina, you wouldve taken your knee off his neck. If you had any idea that preachers white and black were going to line up in a pandemic, when we told to stay inside and we come out and march in the streets at the risk of our took youru would have knee off his neck. Because you thought his neck didnt mean nothing. But god made his neck to connect his head to his body, and you had no right to put your knee on that neck. [applause] genesis two said that god formed man, and they say he breathed breath, the breath of life to make him. A live human being. Which means that breath comes from god. Breath is how god gives you life. Breath is not some coincidental kind of thing that happens. It is a divine decision that god makes. Some babies are born stillborn. God decides to blow breath in them. Breath is sanctified. Breath is sacred. You dont have the right to take gods breath out of anybody. You cant put breath in their body. [applause] but you dont look at it that way because of your wickedness. Principalities, darkness. You are sitting now trying to figure out how you are going to stop the protests rather than how you are going to stop the brutality. [applause] you are calling your cabinet in, trying to figure out how its ,oing to affect your votes rather than how its going to affect our lives. You are scheming on how you can spin the story, rather than you can achieve justice. Wickedness in high places. [applause] you take rubber bullets and tear gas to clear out Peaceful Protesters and then take a bible and walk in front of a church and use a church as a prop. Wickedness in high places. [applause] you aint been walking across that street when the church didnt have the boards up. You wasnt holding up no bible when arbery was killed in brunswick, when taylor was killed in louisville. Wickedness in high places. But god got some people thatll stand up let me tell you this. Jesus told the story that there was a man laying by the side of the road. He had been robbed and beaten. They said one man came by that was the same race. His fellow brother, and he kept walking. Then another man came by that was steep and well read in the scriptures. Knew every scripture, knew how to quote the book back and forward, but he only quoted the book. He never lived by the book. And he kept walking. But jesus said a third man came by. And he stopped and looked at the man. He wasnt the same race or the same religion, but he picked the man up and he took care of restoring the man to his rightful being. And jesus called him the good samaritan. The problem is, too many of you have been walking by the eric s, been walking by the Trayvon Martins, been walking by been walking by. , and now weve stopped for george floyd. And im in houston today because i dont want nobody to call me a passerby. Jamie here cause he not a passerby. We notyou here because passersbys. We are going to be back in minneapolis when the trial starts. You may pack the police union on one side, but the righteous is going to be on the others of that courtroom. [organ hit] [applause] [organ riffs] its time that we reclaim, the righteous in this country. Reverend, we dont know if weve got the money or the political power. Well, weve got the vote. And weve got something that we had before we had the vote. We had god on our side. Thats why, when they was even in slavery, they used to have church out in the slave. Uarters because they understood that if they called on god that god would answer prayer, and the same god that brought us from chattel slavery is still on the throne. The same god that brought us from the back of the bus is still on the throne. The same god that brought us from jim crow is still on the throne. And if were right, hell fight our battles, and well put georges name in history. They will say thats the one that they shouldnt have touched. Thats the neck they shouldnt have bent down on. If my people called by my name would humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from your wicked ways, then you will hear from heaven, and i will heal the land. [organ riff] [applause] i want to say we have said we are going to keep marching, keep protesting. August 28, we are going to washington, by the tens of thousands. We are going to have a National March on the anniversary of i have a dream. The floyd family and other families are going to lead it. I want to say this before i leave, to the floyd family, dont ever forget, in your darkest hour, be not dismayed. Whatever betides, god will take care of you. Rights church. I can preach a little bit. Beneath his wings love abides god will take care of you i was like floyd. I grew up with daddy gone. Mama had to make it with welfare checks. I used to go and shop with the food stamps. A lot of folks say that, but the way i know it if youve been on food stamps, i ask you what color was your food stamps. Because if you dont know the different colors, you are just fronting. But i used to slip the little gray slip so my friends wouldnt know i was on food stamps. But mama told me something i never forgot. She said he may not be there when you want him but hes always on time. The lord will make a way out of no way. I can tell you, 40 years later, he walks with me. He talks with me. He tells me that i am his own. He gave food when i was hungry. He gave water when i was thirsty. He is my rock, my sword and shield. My will in the middle of the wheel hes the lily of the valley the bright and morning star he woke me up this morning started me on my way yes. Yes. Yes. Let me say this. Cemetery. To go to the let me say this. I saw Michael Brown sr. Here. And i thought about i told him this story. Happened, congressman greene, and we were all flustered in new york. They closed down the bridges. Closed down the streets. Closed the trains. I had to walk all the way to my headquarters of National Action network. When we got there, there were people everywhere. Cell phones was down, and people came to our headquarters to see if we could tell them what was happening, if we were out of danger. And for the First Time Since i was a little boy i started preaching as bishop since a little boy, first time i could not find words to say. And, jimmy, i went in my office. Trying to figure out what could i say. And i thought about this old preacher told me this story. He said, i had to preach one sunday at the Early Service and i started reading this novel about 8 00 that night. And i got so into it that i could not put the novel down. I looked at the clock. It was 10 00, and i wanted to go and bit go to bed, but i could not put the novel down. I kept reading. Said, lord i got to get some rest. I have to get up early. Could not put it down. I kept reading. Finally, it was after midnight, said, i got to tell the truth. I decided to cheat, and i turned to the end of the book to find out how the story was going to end. I want you to know on 9 11, 2001, i want the family to know, like i told Michael Browns family that afternoon, i cheated. I sat in my office, and i took my bible out. And i turned to the end of the book, and i know how this story is going to end. The first will be last. The last will be first. The lamb is going to lay down together, and god will take care of his children. We got some difficult days ahead but i know how the story is going to end. There will be justice for george floyd. There will be justice for eric garner. This story wont end like this. Norwill never leave us, forsake us. I have been to the end of the book. Lets fight on. Lets stand together. Lets not leave this family now that the ceremony is over. This is the beginning of the fight. Its not the end of the fight. George, i read on the front page of the New York Times this morning, you said you wanted to touch the world. Well, god had already made you for that. But you did not touch it in a basketball court. Or football court. God had Something Else for you to do. Because all over the world, george, they are marching with your name. You touched the world in south africa. You touch the world in england. Touched the world in england. You touched every one of the 50 states, even in a pandemic. People are walking out in the streets, not even following social distancing. Because you have touched the world. And as we lay you to rest the to rest today, the movement wont rest until we get justice. Until we have one standard of justice. Your family is going to miss you, george. But your nation is going to always remember your name. Because your neck was one that represented all of us. And how you suffered represented are suffering. So, we are going to lay you near your mama now. You called for mama. We are going to lay your body know mamars, but i has already embraced you, george. You fought a good fight. You kept the faith. Cause. Ed your go on and get to rest now. Go on and see mama now. We are going to fight on. We are going to fight on. We are going to fight on. We are going to fight on. [organ playing] [applause] praise the lord. I wrote this song 20 years ago and i never thought i would sing it for a game changer. Here we go. Ive got so much to thank god for so many wonderful blessings doors many open a brandnew mercy along with his new day that is why i praise you and for this i give you praise wave your hand if you know you are blessed. Wave your hand if you know youre blessed. For waking me up this morning thats why i pray for turning me on my way thats why i pray for letting me see the sunshine thats why i pray want toure blessed, we see you get on your feet. Its a brandnew day along with each new day lord, the that is why i praise you for this new night give you ne se for this i give you praise you are jehovah thats why i pray you rescued me has anybody here ever had to were in thehen you valley . For every mountain on, sing it for george. Sing it for george. Overyou brought me for every trial lord, youve seen me through for every prayer my soul says hallelujah for this take me to the valley. You i give you i give you praise now have you ever had to praise god on the mountaintop . Every mountain u brought me over [vocalizing] youve seen me through my soul says hallelujah for this, lord for this, lord i i give you praise for every mountain you brought me over for every trial you bring me through dayevery i say hallelujah for this new i give you praise for every mountain you brought me over for every trial you lead me through for every day i say hallelujah for this, lord praiseyou for every mountain you brought me over for every trial youve seen me through i say hallelujah , i give you praise for every mountain you brought me over for every trial youve seen me through for every breath hallelujah , i give you i i give you praise lord beloved, if you will maintain order for just a few more moments, we have come to the termination of this celebration of life, and to god be the glory for the life of george floyd junior. The singers have told us if we give god praise, the bible says that everything that has breath praise the lord. Let everything in this room on behalf of george floyd that has breath, praise the lord even right now. Lets praise god for georges life, for his legacy, and for his liberation. As you prepare to leave from this place there are a few matters of order that must be considered as we prepare to leave. I want to ask everyone to please take your seat at this time. Everyone, will you please take your seat at this time . Thank you so very much. As we take our seats now, we are going to terminate this service. Allowing the family to leave first. And then, because we must maintain order and get the family to the cemetery in the in an appropriate amount of time, the ushers are in the aisles, and they are going to dismiss each section singularly. Im going to ask that you state in your seat until the usher has made it clear that it is time to your section to recess leave the sanctuary. Going to ask you to do that, and it has been requested that you go immediately to your cars, so we can allow everyone to clear off the campus of the fountain of praise as expeditiously as possible. We must maintain order. We must get this done so that the family can get to the cemetery, and we can lay this body to the ground as we have celebrated his life in such grand fashion. Thank you, church, for being the church you have been throughout this time. Thank you, beloved community, for hearing what we asked of you and responding accordingly. We are going to leave from this place now, and as we do, we are we again celebrate what god has done by giving us giving to us the life of george floyd junior. The bible says the lord giveth and the lord taketh away. Now blessed be the name of the lord. Will you help me bless the name of the lord as the family stands and we prepare to dismiss at this time. We are directors, following your directions, and all other members of the congregation, remain seated until the ushers have dismissed you. Thank you so very much. Has something to present. Bend, will yout make your presentation at this time . Fort bend funeral home. If everyone else will please just remain seated. Just the family in this section right here in the center. We ask the family to follow the direction of fort bend funeral services. I shall wear a crown overits all yes when its all over oh, i i shall see his face i shall see his face one day i will when its over i cant wait to get there oover i shall i shall wear a crown i shall crown hall wear a when over en its all my lord, jesus, when when its all over i shall see face shall see his see his face i shall see his face waiti cant i cant wait to see his face when its over over en its all telland tell the story when its all over will s, i robe will put on my im going to put on on my robeing to put one more time before we get out of here on my robeing to put when that day is over on im going to put it im going to put on my robe tell the story yeah made it over, i made it front and center for everyone except the family. If you are exiting the building, we are going to respectfully ask that you exit through the side doors here to the front. The family is going through the center aisle. Please do not crowd the family any further. Please exit through these side doors here. I do not see nobody moving this way. I need people to move this way. Or i need you to move that way. Towards the front. Hey man, well keep order in place. Amen. Thank you, lord. Thank you. Yes, yes. There we go. To thecan come around front if you want to catch up with someone there, through to the lobby. Please exit, thank you. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] cspans washington journal every day. We are taking your calls live and discussing policy issues that impact you. Coming up, the washington examiners Jerry Dunleavy discusses the prosecution of former National Security advisor michael flynn. The conversation continues with joseph digit of a and National Security fellow paul rosensweig. Eastern wednesday morning. Be sure to join the conversation with your phone calls, facebook comments, Text Messages and tweets. The cspannesday on networks, the House Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on policing practices and accountability. The committee will hear from George Floyds brother and family attorney. Er witnesses include thats 10 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. On cspan two, the Senate Returns at 10 00 a. M. To continue work on a bill to Fund National parks and public lands. Cspan3, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin joins the head of the Small Business administration to testify about implementing the Small Business provisions in the cares act. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy discussed his estates response to the coronavirus pandemic and black lives matter protests during a virtual event. Governor murphy also spoke about reform he had signed in new jersey to discuss police conduct, including requirements of an independent review of officerinvolved shootings. Im coauthor of the o playbook, and we are hosting an interview with new jersey governor murphy to talk about what assistance he would like from the federal government. We bring viewers behind the scenes as we talk to top leaders in congress, the white house, the business executive, and political operatives about how they are putting new rules in order including putting forth ideas, to help america course correct ahead of the 2020 president ial election