Alwaght- People have rallied in Minneapolis to pay tribute to George Floyd ahead of the first anniversary of his murder, vowing to carry on the fight against racially motivated police brutality.
The peaceful event on Sunday was the beginning of a three-day-long commemoration, which will culminate on Tuesday, May 25, when the nation will be marking a year since Floyd died in police custody.
"George Floyd should not go down in history as just someone with a knee on his neck. George Floyd should go down in history [as a person] that broke the neck of police racism, police brutality and police illegality. That how we will put George’s name in history," Reverend Al Sharpton, one of the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement, said at a Sunday rally which preceded the march.
Speaking outside the Hennepin County Court, where former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was tried and found guilty of second-degree murder and two other felonies, Reverend Al Sharpton called on US lawmakers to approve a sweeping police reform, the George Floyd Act endorsed by President Joe Biden.
"The reason we are here, the reason we have answered the call... is to say that convicting Chauvin is not enough, we need federal legislation. It was historic to see a white police officer for the first time be convicted for killing a black man... But it will go again and again and again acquittals unless we can get a federal law," Al Sharpton said.
Attorney Ben Crump, who legally represents scores of police brutality victims, urged to continue the fight until "a black baby born to a black mother... has the same exact rights as a white baby born to a white mother, the most educated, articulate, outfluent white mother."
"No, that’s not a case in America today, but I challenge anybody to say that’s not a goal we are fighting for, I challenge anybody to say that’s now what makes America the great beacon of hope and justice," he said.
A representative of a local Muslim community asked the BLM movement to raise it voice in support of the Palestinians in their fight against Israeli occupation. "None of us are free until all of us are free," she said and was greeted with applause and cheers.
From the court building the procession moved along the streets of Minneapolis chanting BLM slogans, carrying portraits of African Americans killed by the police and a symbolic coffin dedicated to all "who weren’t filmed, haven’t received justice, whose names weren’t said."
The march was guarded by bikers and a group of armed black men in uniform-style attire who introduced themselves as "the New Black Panther Nation."
Minneapolis plans more commemorative events for Monday and Tuesday ranging from discussion panels to live music performances. The anniversary of Floyd’s death is being marked across the United States with President Joe Biden expected to meet with the African American’s family in Washington, DC on Tuesday.
