Religion

Minneapolis Christian University to Hold Memorial Service for George Floyd


Minneapolis Christian University to Hold Memorial Service for George Floyd


A Minneapolis-based Christian university will be paying tribute to George Floyd in a memorial service on Thursday.

“North Central University is honored to have been asked to serve as the location for the Minneapolis funeral service for Mr. George Floyd,” North Central University announced in a statement on Tuesday.

“As a Christian university situated in the heart of Minneapolis, we strive to be good citizens and good neighbors. Our hope is that our sanctuary will provide a space of welcome and warmth for Mr. Floyd’s loved ones and their guests during this time of remembrance and worship,” the statement continued.

The Christian Post reports that the memorial service will be held between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM and will be live-streamed online and on local media channels.

Floyd’s eulogy will be given by civil rights activist and founder and president of the National Action Network, Rev. Al Sharpton.

The university statement noted that the memorial service will be “a private event for the family, friends, and invitees of the Floyd family.”

“Preregistered and verified attendees” will solely be granted admittance.

A funeral service will also be held for Floyd early next week. Benjamin Crump, Floyd’s family attorney, announced on Monday that a funeral service – which former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has offered to cover the expenses for – will be held for Floyd on June 9, in his hometown of Houston, Texas, CNN reports.

A GoFundMe memorial fund for Floyd created last week has raised over $12 million to aid the family in memorial expenses among other things.

Philonise Floyd, who organized the fundraising campaign, shared in a statement that the “fund [was] established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist our family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George. A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund.”

Also in the statement, Philonise noted the trauma of losing his brother in such a horrific and public way.

“On May 25, 2020, my life shattered as I learned of the tragic passing of my dear brother, George,” Philonise wrote on the fundraiser page.

“My family and I watched in absolute horror as the now infamous and horrifying video began to spread quickly throughout social media. What we saw on that tape left us shell shocked; a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling directly on my brother’s neck, obstructing his ability to breathe.”

He continued, “As some officers knelt on his neck, other officers participated and watched; no one took any action to save my brother’s life,” he asserted. “Those officers would continue to brutalize my brother until he died.”

George Floyd, 46, died last Monday after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes according to a viral video. An independent autopsy found that Floyd died from asphyxia.

Floyd’s death was ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, indicating that he suffered “a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s).”

Chauvin, a now-former Minneapolis police officer, was taken into custody and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on Friday. On Wednesday, the murder charge was bumped up to second-degree murder, though lawyers on behalf of the Floyd family are pushing for a first-degree murder charge, CBS Minnesota reported.

Additionally, the three other officers present at the time of the incident were also arrested and charged for their involvement in Floyd’s death.

Related:

Police Officers Fired after On-Scene Video Shows Unarmed Minneapolis Man Dying during an Arrest

Christians Respond to the Tragic Death of George Floyd

George Floyd Is Remembered By His Friends as a Man of Faith

‘We Can’t Be Silent’: Tony Dungy Implores Christians to ‘Demonstrate the Qualities’ of Jesus in the Fight for Racial Equality

‘My Family Is God-Fearing’: George Floyd’s Brother Calls for an End of Violent Riots, Looting

Tennessee Police Officer Prays with Protestor during Rally following the Death of George Floyd

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Scott Olson/Staff


Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.





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