George Floyd's fifth anniversary: ​​a life of dreams, struggles and hope before the tragedy | Today news

Americans were the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death on Sunday, a moment that set fire to a global account of race and policing. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25, 2020, when police officer of white Minneapolis Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes. The graphic footage of the arrest, caught by bystanders, urged a historic wave of protests over the US and abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic. George Perry Floyd Jr., whose last moments are under the knee of a police officer in Minneapolis in a video that shook the world, were many things before becoming a global symbol for racial justice and police reform. He was a father, a mentor, a former athlete and a man who – imperfect and serious – tried to overcome his past and reform his future. Floyd, a humble start in Houston born in Northern Carolina in 1973, moved to Houston at the age of two with his mother, Larcenia “Cissy” Floyd, a single parent looking for better opportunities. They settled in Cuney Homes, a public housing project in the heart of Houston’s third section – a community with deep black roots and persistent poverty. He is known as ‘Big Floyd’ for his tower-like 6-foot-7 frame and grew up in the midst of challenges, but had dreams far greater than his environment. As a child, he once wrote that he wanted to be a Supreme Court Judge. Later, he emerged as a star athlete at Jack Yates High School, played in a Texas State Football Championship and earned a partial scholarship to play basketball at South Florida State College. Talent, problems and transformation Floyd’s early adulthood were characterized by instability. After bouncing between colleges, he returned to Houston and struggled to find steady work. Between 1997 and 2005, he was arrested several times for drug and theft-related charges. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to armed robbery and served almost five years in prison. But his release in 2013 was a turning point. Floyd became involved with pastors and Christian rap artists and worked with ministries in the Cuney Homes community to help others to get away from the mistakes he made. He helped organize community opportunities, deliver groceries and even baptize new believers in temporary baths on basketball courts nearby. “He was like a superhero,” said Cal Wayne, a local rapper and child friend. “He always had time for us.” Floyd, a new chapter in Minneapolis in search of a new beginning, moved to Minneapolis in 2014 through a church program aimed at helping men rebuild their lives. There he worked security opportunities, first in the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center and later at a popular nightclub. Friends described him as kind -hearted, respectful and deeply protective of others. Even after his move, Floyd bound to Houston. He visited regularly, returned to community opportunities and cared for the people who helped raise him. At the time of his death, he was unemployed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and hoped to return home that summer. May 25, 2020 on Memorial Day 2020, accused a shopping clerk Floyd of using a forged $ 20 bill, which led to a police encounter that ended in tragedy. The video of officer Derek Chauvin, who kneels on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, has provoked global outrage, which set fire to mass protests and to ask for racial justice in all 50 US states and beyond. Memorial and reflection on George Floyd Square This weekend met mourners at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis – the site where Floyd got his last breath. Dozens decorated the now iconic crossing with protest art and flowers. A mural “You change the world, George” remains a central piece from the memorial. Family insists on holding ongoing struggle during a memorial event, and Floyd’s family members have requested Americans not to be discouraged by the current political climate. “We don’t need an executive order to tell us that Black Lives matter,” says his aunt Angela Harrelson, with a T-shirt with Floyd’s face. “We can’t allow a setback to be a setback for the big return. Donald Trump just didn’t get the memo. ‘ Cousin Paris Stevens added, “No one can silence us anymore.” This year’s memorial theme – “The people have spoken” – was inspired by a visit from Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Mandela, Harrelson said. This reflects five years of sustained activism.