Floyd 'changed world', family told

Congress members among those attending packed funeral for man who died in police custody

Elected officials, celebrities, community members and families of other victims who died at the hands of police joined George Floyd's family members — who all wore white — at his third and final funeral service, which was held at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston on Tuesday.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin, then a Minneapolis police officer, pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. The incident has sparked protests worldwide over the past two weeks.

The church was near capacity with about 2,500 people in attendance.

Former US vice-president and presidential candidate Joe Biden, speaking via video at the event, told Floyd's family that "unlike most, you must grieve in public, and that's a burden — a burden that's now your purpose to change the world for the better in the name of George Floyd".

Biden addressed Floyd's 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, directly: "I know you have a lot of questions, honey. No child should have to ask questions that too many black children have had to ask for generations. Why? Why's daddy gone?"

Biden continued: "We can't turn away. We must not turn away. We cannot leave this moment thinking we can again turn away from racism that stings our very soul, from systematic abuse that still plagues American life."

US Congressman Al Green, who represents southwestern Houston, said that Floyd's crime was that he was born black. Green said he plans to present the family with a resolution that will become part of the Congressional Record.

"George Floyd changed the world. And we are going to make the world know that he made a difference," he said.

Green also called for the federal government to create a "Department of Reconciliation".